This question has two parts; be sure to answer both. First, list, define, and describe three ways in which newcomers are helped to perform their jobs. Next, assume you are the HR manager of a local fitness club, Jupiter Fitness. You hire the front-desk staff, the trainers, the people who teach classes (such as yoga and spinning), the technicians who maintain the workout machines and treadmills, and the porters. How might you help newcomers to Jupiter Fitness perform their jobs and learn about the company's culture, policies, and procedures?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Three ways in which newcomers are helped to perform their jobs are through orientation, training, and development.

Orientation consists of helping the newcomer fit smoothly into the job and organization. Following orientation, the employee should emerge with information about the job routine, the organization's mission and operations, and the organization's work rules and employee benefits.

Training must be distinguished from development. Training refers to educating technical and operational employees in how to do their current jobs better.

Development is the term describing educating professionals and managers in the skills they need to do their jobs in the future. Both training and development may be effected through on-the-job training methods and off-the-job training methods.

As the HR manager of Jupiter Fitness, you will want to make sure that all new employees go through orientation. You might give them a tour of the gym and all of its facilities, and introduce them to as many current employees as you can. You will want to brief them on important rules and policies (for example, no cell phones on the workout floor; all classes require a reservation, with no exceptions made). You will want to offer training to the staffers who maintain the workout equipment and treadmills; these people are technicians who need a high level of technical skill to do their jobs. For those who work in a less technical and more professional capacity, you might offer development in the form of (for example) classes that help instructors create a more welcoming environment for new members, or one-on-one sessions with personal trainers teaching them about the latest fitness techniques and trends.