Inspiring The Future gets CIPD members back to school
The sea of expectant faces, the restless shifting in seats, the endless barrage of odd questions… no, it’s not an off-site with the finance department, it’s the experience of standing in front of a class full of young people to explain the world of work. And more and more HR professionals are finding out how it feels first hand.
Over 2,000 CIPD members have now signed up for the Inspiring The Future programme, run in conjunction with the Education and Employers Taskforce, which gets professionals to talk to students (particularly those doing GCSEs) about the realities of working life.
HR professionals, with their ability to offer an overview of organisational structure and working practices, make particularly strong speakers. The scheme uses an online portal to match volunteers with local schools. But how do you prepare for the big day?
• Don’t panic. Inspiring the Future activities range from one-on-one conversations to presentations at a school assembly, so being a nervous public speaker needn’t be a drawback. Many opt for sit-down conversations with small groups, says Nick Chambers, director of the Education and Employers Taskforce.
• Don’t worry about being ‘cool’. A number of Capgemini staff have spoken at events and Anouska Ramsay, head of talent, application services UK, says: “You don’t need to be ‘down with the kids’ and they won’t expect you to be.”
• Prepare for up-front questions. “Teenagers ask questions about things like earnings that adults don’t because it wouldn’t be polite. You might want to think about how you’re going to answer those questions,” says Katerina Rüdiger, head of skills and policy campaigns at the CIPD.
• Use it as a learning opportunity. Emma West, director of talent and capability at Sainsbury’s, says: “The results have been mutually beneficial. Our colleagues are encouraged to share their personal stories and challenge perceptions about retail, which takes a great deal of confidence. It can also help them recognise where their own strengths lie.”
Find out more and get signed up at www.inspiringthefuture.org