We have recently come across a clip on the BBC website taken from the programme Panorama: Return of the Real Apprentices.
A Senior Consultant at Discovery Graduates made the following comments on the clip:
Lord Digby Jones makes some valid points here. Although this may be a cheaper option, companies recruiting inexperienced people or graduates are taking a risk. A company views hiring a graduate as an investment as they have to dedicate time and money to get that person to provide them with a positive return on that investment. As with any investment; the investor usually likes to minimise the risk of this going wrong.
From a business’s perspective there are many things that can highlight a potential risk. One of these things is someone’s appearance. An employer can quite rightly think, “If someone does not care about their appearance, how will they care about their work?”
The gentlemen in the clip are willing to alter their appearance if they got a job offer, but should be willing to do more to be in a position where they could get this offer. Tim and Ben appear to have some useful skills; they are both confident and articulate, but at the moment, they are lacking the most important ingredient – attitude.
Lord Digby Jones states there are billions of people around the world that would love to be in their position. He is right and Tim and Ben should make the most of the opportunity given to them. Perhaps their motivation is not strong enough. Tim feels he is not less of a person for not having a job and I would disagree with him in some respects. A job - what we do, is an important component of what defines us, and along with our beliefs, our homes, our relationships, our experiences, our well-being - if any of these areas are lacking then it detracts from us and makes us feel incomplete. Hopefully upon realisation of this, Tim and Ben will find a strong enough motivation, find the right attitude and get their hair cut. Meaningful employment will follow this.
A few years back we released an article entitled ‘“What not to wear” in an interview’ and the advice there still stands!