THE POWER OF MENTORING CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED FOR TRANSFERRING PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE . industry . Promote continuous learning by offering technical certifications , training workshops and conferences to keep staff up to date with evolving technologies .
EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
MARYNET BASSILY , SENIOR PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR EMEA , VANTAGE DATA CENTERS
s demand for data
A centres continues to grow , it is essential for data centre management professionals to develop more resilient and longterm strategies for attracting new blood into data centre organisations – whether on-premise or colocation . At the same time , they should attack the growing skills shortages by working harder at retaining and leveraging the latent skills that may already exist within the workforce .
This means thinking more creatively and looking beyond the conventional wisdom when it comes to recruitment , and to practice diversity and inclusivity in the widest sense to ensure significantly more people from all walks of life – irrespective of gender or ethnicity – are equally considered for positions of responsibility .
This offers greater flexibility in working practices , especially in the case of working mothers . To encourage new talent and incentivise progression in the data centre space requires a concerted plan of action should be considered , such as :
• Partner with educational institutions to create targeted programmes and internships that attract young people – women in particular – to careers in the data centre industry .
• Develop mentorship programmes that pair experienced professionals with entry-level employees and new recruits , to support career development , provide guidance and foster a sense of inclusion . The power of mentoring cannot be underestimated for transferring practical knowledge and experience . It is crucial to building employee self-confidence , motivation and the sharing of experiences and ideas . This stimulates new thinking and contributes enormously to overall innovation .
• Offer robust professional development programmes to all employees , providing opportunities for growth and advancement within the data centre
THE POWER OF MENTORING CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED FOR TRANSFERRING PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE . industry . Promote continuous learning by offering technical certifications , training workshops and conferences to keep staff up to date with evolving technologies .
• Encourage participation in industry networking events , conferences and seminars , including those specifically targeted at women in technology .
• Create employee resource groups that focus on diversity and inclusion to provide a platform for employees to share experiences , offer support and drive initiatives to promote equality in the workplace .
• Support work-life balance by promoting flexible work arrangements , such as remote work options , flexible hours and family-friendly policies to enable employees , including women , to effectively manage their personal and professional lives .
• For key positions that cannot otherwise be accommodated from within the current workforce , data centre managers should consider potential candidates working in related industries . For instance , this might include those working in the wider infrastructure and missioncritical construction sector . Equally , for more general roles – project management for example – try being more open to considering graduates from non-engineering backgrounds . Moreover , consider recruiting from further afield , not just from within the local region or country concerned . www . intelligentdatacentres . com
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