MIT Sloan Management Review Article on How to Develop Early-Career Talent Virtually

Despite today’s uncertain business environment, it’s critical that companies continue to build their future workforces by investing in early-career talent. The importance of ensuring that entry-level hires are suitably equipped with sufficient developmental opportunities to jump-start, advance, and actualize their potential can’t be overlooked — even in a remote-only workplace.

Internships and graduate programs are favored methods for identifying and nurturing talent. Before the pandemic, top programs typically required substantial face-to-face interactions, providing those new to work with opportunities to shadow senior employees, learn the ropes, and build the confidence to advance into management roles. But since the introduction of widespread remote work, this reliance on in-person interaction has severely limited growth opportunities for entry-level hires, leading companies to halt more than half of their training opportunities and rescind 28% of job offers. In comparison, only 9% of employers withdrew new graduates’ employment offers the year after the 2008 financial crisis.

About the Author

Benjamin Laker (@drbenlaker) is a professor of leadership at Henley Business School at the University of Reading. Sonya Matejko is the founder of A Force of Nurture, a storytelling consultancy. Will Godley (@willgodley) is a broadcast journalist contributing to the BBC, CNN, Forbes, and Sky News. Adeyinka Adewale (@yinkaadewale) is an assistant professor in organizational behavior at Henley Business School.

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