The Formative Impact of Experience: Employers in the Services Sector

In France, periods of on-the-job-training form an important part of vocational training programs. Almost by their very nature, they are thought of as having a formative impact. In this paper, the authors examine this automatic link between time spent "on-the-job," experience & knowledge. Analysis of interviews with employers in the services sector shows that, in their view, on-the-job-training can be a formative experience but it may also reveal qualities already possessed by the employee. After analyzing the employers' views, the authors attempt to characterize the significant factors in the production of experience. Based on this, they take a critical approach to the role of periods of on-the-job-training included as part of work-linked training programs. Adapted from the source document.