Why don't businesses train employees?

Question

Lets say you go in the Military, you don't need any College experience or training to get in right? But the Military trains you to work for them, to function for them and to become an expert at what you do. Why don't all businesses work the same way? Lets say I'm interested in software, programming etc. Why must I have "prior experience" to work for companies which deal in expertise positions? Why not, instead, hire me into a company "boot camp" and give me the dedicated training I require to be an efficient, top quality employee in the field I request? I've not had the luck or opportunities to get experience in anything, never had parental guidance, never had much of anything. I think if companies had a "boot camp" for new recruits there would be less poverty in the world and more filled job positions. What do you think?

For the argument saying the employee may just up and leave after training by a company, just have the employee sign a binding contract with the corporation much like the military does

Answer 1

Pay in the military is not very good. Most businesses pay much more and expect much more in the line of preparation and experience. Also, many businesses have extensive training programs for their employees.

Answer 2

I am in the British Army and know exactly what you mean!
The reasons companies don't tend to train you as the military do is because you don't sign a contract that states you are willing to serve a certain period of time with them if they do provide the training. When I first joined up I was told that once I had signed the dotted line I would be committed for a minimum of 4 yrs inc a 12 month notification period of intention to leave.
A company won't pay for you to do expensive courses as once they have you may be tempted by a better job offer else where!
It's all about money!

Answer 3

I used to work at an Incredible Universe. They had a small in-house IT group to maintain the point of sale system, cash register computers, handheld computers for the sales reps, and do basic database queries for local needs.

When they opened, they sent the original two IT guys to official training for the system and database. ... after a few months, they bailed and got better paying jobs based on their training and just the few months' experience. The next hired didn't get official training... they didn't want that kind of turnover.

I got hired into the IT group as the third generation down -- the guy before me got on-the-job training only from the first guys before they left, and then he trained me. I actually figured out a few things with the database that he didn't know how to do, that came in really handy.

On the larger scale, where companies ARE willing to pay for the needed expertise, it is a big risk to take someone and train them; it's a large investment to put in someone you don't know. However, if you hire someone who already HAS that training and experience, you have some indication that he/she is capable of what you need... and you don't have to pay out the nose to train them first to find out if they can or not.

Now, some companies DO train people ... however, it's usually for internal promotions, where they are familiar with the person and their capabilities/dedication already, instead of taking the risk on someone new off the street.

Answer 4

You dont need a college education to join the military, but they will send you to college, and give you a higher rank, and pay when you finish. And companies are major contributors to universities, education, and research.