Another View: Onboarding of freshers & Building a Cream Talent

Most of the times, we are required to work with fresher’s to get the project executed and I am sure almost all the project managers executing the project find it as a risk or a challenge which is true and most of the times project deliverables are at stake. If you look at the positive side, it always helps in project activities due to their commitment and zeal to learn, it also helps in having right project margins and helps in creating a technical pool of resources growing the portfolio/practice strength and building the technical expertise within portfolio/practice. It also benefits the fresher’s as they get hands-on experience and thus in-turn develop their technical understanding to take up higher roles. The key is to have the right senior junior ratio in the project.
 
With fresher’s, it gets difficult when we do not have right resources to groom them and understand their apprehensions and queries especially when they do not know the right questions to ask.

Here are few simple things which are proven for me and help a long way to groom them and have them perform:
 
1. Walk-through of Contract/SOW for deliverables, planning and execution – Sets right expectation.
 
2. Having an Induction Plan in place – Gives them understanding on how to do, what to do, who to approach for whatever relevant circumstances; explaining them the need for this project, explaining requirements, technologies used, existing Project artefacts etc.
 
3. Meeting their Training requirements – Sets the ground for them to perform; can be done even by a senior team member. Assess the Training needs at regular intervals and ensure their training requirements are met timely.
 
4. All project artefacts to be placed in Project repository or any version control system for easy access to the team including Project Contract/SOW especially for the sections which will help them understand the need of the customer and how they are converted to low level requirements.
 
5. Have a technical mentor identified within the project or outside who can guide them time to time.
 
6. Fresher’s do an excellent job taking up the role of a Configuration Controller (CC) and Defect Prevention (DP) anchor and few other quality aspects if given an overview and training in quality. This helps a long way building their confidence and helps them learn how to multitask effectively.
 
7. Role Expectations and Performance Expectations – Most of the times, the role needs, goals and performance parameters are defined but used only during appraisal process however I believe, this should be done while inducting the team – Helps the team to create personal goals and define a learning curve personally. This also helps the team to see how the goals are aligned to project performance and hence they try their best to perform in their respective roles.
Fresher’s have always the zeal to learn and get things done if proper direction and help is given to them. Additional responsibilities which is possible for them to take up gives them the confidence that they can take up multiple tasks/activities.

We can play a vital role in grooming them!!

[Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it  - Mahatma Gandhi]