Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (February 2023)

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Column

Training

Training Gen Z in the Marine Industry

By Pat Folan, Tug & Barge Solutions them do a 180, and therefor they are not a ? t for us.

Get your core values ? gured out, repeatedly talk about

Gen Z is looking for a place to ? t in the workplace. They are look- them with your staff and customers, and don’t compro- ing for a way to enhance their story while they are making a mise on them.

difference in the world. And you are looking for someone to When you hire to your core values, the training part will ? ll a position. How does your need dovetail with their needs? be easier because you have a foundation in your new hire

Before we get into the training aspect, it is worth under- that aligns with the company.

standing who you are going to be training. What are your company’s core values? Are the people that you are hiring

Training tips in line with them? 1. Engage them through cross training. Gen Z train-

What are core values? They are the beliefs and principles ing must do more than match the job description. It must that drive your business. They are what make your com- extend their capabilities. Gen Z is not going to have the pany unique, and they are the line that you won’t cross – knowledge that other generations had. But they are rapid no matter what. learners. And part of what they want to learn is about all

At Tug & Barge Solutions (TBS), we only hire people the opportunities at your company.

that live our core values. The company wants a deckhand, but the Gen Z em-

We didn’t always do that, and it consistently let us down. ployee envisions being the captain or in a position in the

We will hire someone who meets and lives all our core values of? ce. Your training must consider their desire to be more but lacks certain skills because you can always train people. than what you currently need. This is not what we have

But you can’t train a core value. Two of our core values ever done in the industry, but the upside is a more ? exible, are: (1) create fun! and (2) embrace and drive change. If adaptable, and better positioned workforce for your future.

they don’t like change, or can’t have fun, we can’t make 2. Use videos for storytelling. On average they watch

Pat Folan 12 | MN February 2023