The Penn Foster Blog

Make no mistake, healthcare is a service industry. In most cases, patients and their families are facing difficult and emotional challenges. They’re away from home, ill, and feeling vulnerable. What might seem like a small irritation under normal circumstances can escalate to a catastrophic event under these conditions. Which is why training employees to interact with patients, families, and visitors is critically important.

For decades, the word on the factory floor has been that robots would replace manufacturing workers any day now. That day, if it ever comes, is still far in the future. In the meantime, manufacturing still needs people to do what robots can’t do, or can’t do well.  For leaders in the manufacturing industry, the knowledge that they need employees is offset by the awareness that finding those people isn’t easy. A survey by SCORE  found that 89% of manufacturers struggle to fill open positions, exacerbated by an ever-present skills gap that some expect to cost the U.S. up to $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years across all industries.

When hiring, it’s easy to focus just on the technical skills. Find a Veterinary Technician who can take an X-ray or a contractor who can drive a skid steer and you’ve found a good candidate, right? Maybe not.  A hyper focus on hard skills can mean you miss out on quality candidates and end up with employees who can’t collaborate, lead or communicate. Soft skills or people skills are vital to the success of your business. Looking for people skills in new hires and developing them in your existing workforce can make a big difference for productivity, profitability, and even retention.

Keeping your employees safe is one of your top priorities. This should be true in any business, but it’s especially important in the manufacturing industry, where hazardous equipment and shifting technology are a dangerous combination for the untrained worker. An investment in industrial safety training does more than help you meet health and safety regulations, it protects your workforce and your bottom line.

Apprenticeships have been a part of the U.S. educational system since long before the country declared its independence. Now apprenticeships are in vogue again. This traditional training method offers several advantages, and many people are wondering if apprenticeship programs are the future of education. 

With a healthcare boom underway and a growing gap of middle-skilled job candidates, it's time to rethink hiring practices and move from the familiar, reactive model to one that allows you and your practice to build a strong, dedicated talent pipeline - while decreasing your turnover rate.  

Imagine you have an open position for a management role in your business. Which would you rather do? Create a job post, sort through resumes, interview candidates, and eventually hire someone who might hopefully be the right fit, or promote a proven employee who already understands your business and your team? 

The healthcare industry has been booming for decades. While consistent growth brings plenty of opportunity, it also creates challenges. The skills gap in healthcare is real and pressing. To continue to meet the needs of their patients, healthcare employers need a strategy to attract and retain middle-skills talent. 

Destini Willis, a veteran and a mother, had skills before furthering her education, but she needed expert training to succeed in a new career after leaving the military. Here's her story.

Melissa Holstein is the employee every veterinary clinic and hospital hopes to hire. She's completely devoted to the work and always ready to learn something new.