When it comes to employee training, many employers turn a blind eye. They think that hiring people who already possess the desired skills will suffice, and let on-the-job training do the rest.

However, in doing so, they fail to consider the consequences. For example, they fail to consider the costs associated with hiring highly skilled and experienced workers. Additionally, they also disregard the costs pertaining to undertrained staff.

Unfortunately, this is a problem that is all too common. 87% of millennials consider career growth opportunities important for professional growth. A survey of around 200,000 employees around the world has found that 66% of them feel their current employers don't provide them with enough resources for professional growth. Additionally, studies show that around 40% of employees leave their position within the first year due to poor job training.

Young workers today look for jobs that offer more than just a salary. What they want most of all are experiences that facilitate learning, help them improve their skill set, and grow professionally to advance further in their careers.

However, most employees find private career development training courses expensive. Taking part in these courses means missing out on the time they need to complete projects.

Organizations that provide career training as a benefit or a tool for recruitment give applicants an incentive to apply for job vacancies. People looking for ways to advance their careers will most likely apply if you offer opportunities for them to grow.

Imagine yourself as an HR manager who has been working for the same company for a few years. And you now feel that your current position isn't allowing you more opportunities to grow professionally, for example, the chance to improve your soft skills as much as you would like.

For such workers, organizations that offer employees the chance to improve their skill set with professional training courses become attractive prospects.

A development program makes sure that all employees can perform tasks independently and without needing constant supervision.

Recruiting employees is easy - making them stay is the real challenge. A lack of growth opportunities is one of the reasons for high employee turnover. Results from a survey show that more than 70% of high-retention-risk employees prefer leaving their organizations as a last resort to advance their careers.

The promise of professional development improves retention. Workers become more confident when they feel like they can perform their jobs effectively and are, therefore, easier to retain.

For employers, it's a win-win situation. Providing access to career growth opportunities attracts applicants. Additionally, incentives like these show new employees that you care and are as interested in their professional growth as they are.

There are several training courses employers can use to train employees. Amongst the most common are the following:

Communications Development Training. Only few jobs are solo acts. Projects often require employees to work as part of a team. Effective communication helps employees work better while collaborating on tasks or projects. Employers who provide training in essential communication skills, like professional writing and public speaking, give their employees more chances to improve professionally.

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• Leadership Development Training. In a survey of more than 7,800 millennials from around the globe, 60% of respondents hoped to reach senior leadership positions with their current employers. It's a well-known fact that good leaders increase productivity of other employees. By providing leadership development training, employers can foster leaders who:
  • Make better decisions
  • Increase employee engagement and morale
  • Unify the workplace
  • Actively take part in other growth opportunities
• Technical Skills Training. Technical skills are just as important for career development as soft skills. Giving employees training in skills like digital literacy provide them with a chance to be more productive and gain more marketable skills. For more impact, focus on career counselor training courses targeting skills that new employees typically lack. In an era where companies are cutting costs in training, your organization can stand out by offering career training courses online. Additionally, such benefits also improve recruiting outcomes by helping you stand out from what most employers don't offer - professional development.

Cara Pahoyo is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor's degree in Merchandising and a minor in Communications. After spending 6+ years in apparel and consumer goods merchandising, Cara moved on to brand management and ecommerce marketing. Cara understands the importance of sharing quality content and strives to be a current and valuable resource for her readers. Cara lives in Austin, Texas with her Australian Shepherd and enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, watching documentaries and traveling to new places.