Training Others

Training Others

While most people get knowledge and skills through their own experiences, there are times when you have to look to people for knowledge. This is where the concept of apprenticeship enters the picture. Lets dig deeper and get a better understanding.

Apprenticeship is a system of training an up-and-coming batch of practitioners in order for them to acquire necessary skills and information to do a job well. It is well documented that apprentices also known as prentice and protgs establish their professional life via apprenticeship programs. Most of the actual training is executed within the confines of the usual work setting wherein the employer teaches the apprentice a thing or two about his chosen trade. This is done in exchange for continued labor that is marked by the length of time the apprentice gets the ample amount of skill.

The system of apprenticeship came into being in the late stage of the Middle Ages under the close watch of craft guilds and town governments. A master craftsman had the privilege of employing young blood who is willing to trade an inexpensive form of labor for provisions like lodging, food, and of course training in the specific craft. Even though most of the apprentices during that time were males there were several female greenhorns who took their chance in crafts as a tailor, seamstress, stationer, baker, and codwainer. The apprenticeship opportunity is usually given to individuals who belong in the age bracket of to years and who are willing to live within the comforts of the craftsmans abode.

At present, the counterpart concept of apprenticeship can be pointed in the direction of an internship. Universities still turn to apprenticeship in order to produce scholars. Bachelors are promoted to masters level and creation of a thesis under the guidance of a supervisor follows. The corporate body of the university then makes a move to recognize the achievement that would be fitting for the standards of a doctorate.

The professional development programs established for new graduates in the fields of law and accountancy can also be likened to apprenticeship. An example in British circles is the training contracts called articles of clerkship. The learning patterns being observed in professional service firms like law and accountancy firms are similar with that of the conventional master-apprentice method. The greenhorn is designated to a single or several more seasoned colleagues from whom he will start his quest to learn every detail of his chosen craft.

In the US, officials in the education department joined forces with non profit organizations who seek to emulate the apprenticeship system in other nations in order to establish school to work education reforms. This move aims at connecting academic training to professional careers. Job shadowing is an example program which involves watching a real worker for a certain period of time or spending a significant amount of time engaging in a real-life job. This is performed with no or decreased wages instead of putting in time in academic classes or working in locally-based business establishments.