Two fifths of Brits glad they don’t work with Alan Sugar’s ‘Apprentices’

As the candidates in series six of The Apprentice reveal their true colours, research from Home Learning College shows that 42% of viewers would not want them as colleagues. It seems that women are most turned off by such behaviour, with 44% saying they are glad not to work with people like that, compared to 37% of men. On a more positive note, the survey - conducted among 3,000 adults in employment –revealed some benefits to watching The Apprentice. A third of viewers reported greater satisfaction with their current job and more appreciation of their colleagues after tuning in to the weekly wrangling and backstabbing. A further fifth (21%) said they feel more ambitious. However, 20% admitted that the show makes them realise what they could have achieved if they had applied themselves more. “Watching The Apprentice can give the impression that the best way to progress in business is to shout louder and be pushier than anyone else. In reality, there are far better ways to get noticed in the workplace,” says Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College. “The show is designed to test a wide range of skills, albeit in often unrealistic situations. In the real world, however, no one excels at everything. “The key is to find a career that suits your personality. If you’re unfulfilled at work then you might want to consider boosting your skills with a vocational course that will showcase your talent and ambition without the need to broadcast your achievements from the rooftops!” Occupational psychologist Sherridan Hughes isn’t surprised that so many people find The Apprentice candidates abrasive and annoying. She comments: “Typically, participants in this show are autocratic, dictatorial ‘shapers’ who want things done their way, so horns are bound to clash. Chaos also ensues when too many creative ideas are put into the pot at once. Successful teams have a mix of shapers, coordinators, administrators, creatives, analysts and social secretaries who fulfil different functions at different times. “Some team members are task focused and others are people focused, but they all have to pull together and contribute in their own special way; one does not have to be loud and bossy to add value!” For more information on Home Learning College and enhancing your career with a professionally-accredited distance learning course visit www.homelearningcollege.co.uk. Interviews with Dave Snow and Sherridan Hughes are available on request. ENDS

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