
How To Balance Expectations And Training For New Hires: 19 Expert Tips
As an agency leader, striking a balance between what you expect up front and what you're ready to invest in training new teammates can determine whether they thrive and stay for the long term or not. Below, 19 members of Forbes Agency Council explore how to find that balance in practice, from the baseline skills they look for to the systems they've put in place to help entry-level talent succeed.
1. Provide Role-Specific Training And Mentorship
For us, it depends on the role. For developers, we invest heavily in training and certifications. For other roles, it's more of a mentor-mentee relationship, where the junior-level employee gets paired up with a senior-level employee, sometimes in another discipline, to learn 'how things get done around here.' Everyone also has access to an annual continuing education stipend to use as they see fit. - Stratton Cherouny, The Office of Experience
2. Start With A Probationary Period
In today's remote world, it's harder to find dedicated hires. Many seek a quick paycheck without investing in the work. For entry-level hires, a basic understanding of our industry verbiage is really all we need. A probationary period with basic training helps evaluate fit. Do they track time? Are they actually working? Asking questions? Once they show engagement, we ramp up training. - Peter Boyd, PaperStreet Web Design
3. Look For Specialized Knowledge Up Front
We seek hires with specialized knowledge that enhances our capabilities, trusting we can train them in broader skills. This approach delivers immediate value and supports long-term growth—ultimately expanding what we can offer clients. - Christy Saia-Owenby, MOXY Company
4. Ensure A Baseline Of Internship-Level Experience
We hire based on a baseline of internship experience, which means an understanding of at least foundational tech-stack capabilities across PR and marketing. The interview will do a good job of hinting at work ethic and confidence. The rest is on us to train them up in presence, service skills, advanced tech stack, problem solving and client immersion. Then, it's our hope they grow with us indefinitely. - Dean Trevelino, Trevelino/Keller
Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
5. Prioritize Cultural Fit Over Pedigrees
The right 'who' will always figure out the 'what' if you teach them the 'why.' Choose people over pedigree. Invest in training for culture-fit hires. Provide tools. Assign mentors. Serve and win. - Stephen Rosa, (add)ventures
6. Hire For Curiosity, Drive And Instinct
We look for curiosity, drive and good instincts. Entry-level hires aren't expected to know everything, as we invest in training, mentorship and clear systems. - David Ispiryan, Effeect
7. In Niche Industries, Look For Passion
We invest heavily in training and development, not just for entry-level roles, but also for more experienced ones. As a performance marketing agency specializing in data, we don't expect new hires to have a deep understanding of our niche; however, we do look for a passion for data and its potential as a marketing lever and business differentiator. - Paula Chiocchi, Outward Media, Inc.
8. Seek Those With A Desire To Learn
Our firm seeks self-motivated individuals who are eager to expand their knowledge. Being self-taught in marketing, I value the desire to learn over what they already know. We can teach, but only if they have the desire to learn new skills to enhance their own value and understanding. New hires learn all aspects of our agency to understand the importance of their roles and cross-train them as well. - Terry Zelen, Zelen Communications
9. Nurture Potential With Hands-On Training
We look for people with strong potential and a good attitude, more than perfect skills. We expect basic competency but invest heavily in hands-on training, mentorship and real projects. The goal is to build confidence and expertise quickly while shaping new hires into team members who align with our values and standards. - Guy Leon Sheetrit, Guac Digital
10. Look For Foundational Skills And A Growth Mindset
We look for hires with strong foundational skills and a growth mindset, but we invest heavily in hands-on training aligned with our processes and client expectations. Entry-level talent brings fresh energy, but real value comes from learning our standards. The balance is 30% preexisting competency and 70% structured onboarding and mentorship tailored to performance. - Boris Dzhingarov, ESBO Ltd
11. Blend Structured Onboarding With Live Projects
We seek talent with baseline proficiency and high learning velocity. Entry-level roles aren't about plug-and-play execution; they're launchpads. Our model blends structured onboarding with live-fire projects, ensuring hires grow in context, not isolation. The goal: thinkers who iterate fast, not just follow the process. - Vaibhav Kakkar, Digital Web Solutions
12. Grow Talent From The Ground Up With Internships
We look for curiosity, integrity and raw potential first. Foundational skills are important, but we know that great marketers are developed, not just hired. Our investment in mentoring and hands-on experience, especially through internships, helps us grow talent from the ground up. The right attitude and values outweigh a perfectly polished résumé. - Mary Ann O'Brien, OBI Creative
13. Support Curiosity With Real Client Work
We look for intellectual curiosity and strong communication instincts. Our entry-level hires often arrive with deep personal interest in tech, media or policy, even if they haven't worked in PR before. We invest in training, but we balance that with high trust and early exposure to real client work. The goal isn't to create followers; it's to grow independent thinkers. - Kyle Arteaga, The Bulleit Group
14. Train On Processes, But Expect New Ideas
For us, there's roughly a 60/40 split between training up new hires on our process (60%) and expecting them to bring their own ideas (40%). We expect a high level of competency in their area of expertise—enough to challenge us with better ideas moving forward. Any new team member should have a level of fluency 'out of the box' when they hit the ground running on day one. - Bernard May, National Positions
15. Invest In Development For The Long Haul
We invest one to two years—and often more—into developing new hires, because great training has no time limit. What matters most is hiring people with strong intangibles: high EQ, IQ and natural drive. You can't teach those. With the right raw material, there's no ceiling on how far they can go. - Austin Irabor, NETFLY
16. Seek Integrity, Solid Skills And A Strong Work Ethic
We expect entry-level hires to bring integrity, solid writing skills and a strong work ethic. From there, we invest heavily in professional development programs and training, including nearly 200 documented processes, weekly one-on-ones and personalized development plans. - Jason Mudd, Axia Public Relations
17. Look For Raw Skill, Hunger And Honesty
Curiosity, self-awareness, initiative and a bias for learning—that's what we look for in new employees. We look for unpolished raw skill and hunger we can build on. We'll meet them with mentorship and grow individual skills and competencies if we're met with honesty. No overselling, no bravado—just a clear sense of what they bring and what they're ready to grow into. That's what earns our investment. - Shanna Apitz, Hunt Adkins
18. Meet Hunger With Stretch Opportunities
We don't expect perfection, we expect fire. Give us hunger, humility and the ability to listen like a strategist. We'll meet you with mentorship, structure and stretch opportunities. The best teams grow together—and we train for tomorrow, not just today. - Jacquelyn LaMar Berney, VI Marketing and Branding
19. Do Immersive, Deep-Dive Onboarding
Properly onboarding and training new employees at any level is critical. We've created an immersive culture and systems training format designed to provide a deep dive into who we are as an agency and build the 'lens' that shapes every email, client interaction and decision-making process. The goal of onboarding is to bring the 'why' to life—you can always train them on the 'how' later. - Katie Everett, Katalyst Productions
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump pauses export controls to bolster China trade deal, FT says
(Reuters) -The U.S. has paused curbs on tech exports to China to avoid disrupting trade talks with Beijing and support President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a meeting with President Xi Jinping this year, the Financial Times said on Monday. The industry and security bureau of the Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, has been told in recent months to avoid tough moves on China, the newspaper said, citing current and former officials. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and the department did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside business hours. Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials are set to resume talks in Stockholm on Monday to tackle longstanding economic disputes at the centre of a trade war between the world's top two economies. Tech giant Nvidia said this month it would resume sales of its H20 graphics processing units (GPU) to China, reversing an export curb the Trump administration imposed in April to keep advanced AI chips out of Chinese hands over national security concerns. The planned resumption was part of U.S. negotiations on rare earths and magnets, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said. The paper said 20 security experts and former officials, including former deputy US national security adviser Matt Pottinger, will write on Monday to Lutnick to voice concern, however. "This move represents a strategic misstep that endangers the United States' economic and military edge in artificial intelligence," they write in the letter, it added.
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Genentech and Roche Present New Insights in Alzheimer's Disease Research Across Its Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Portfolios at AAIC
– Trontinemab's Phase Ib/IIa Brainshuttle™ AD study continues to show rapid and robust clearance of amyloid plaques, with 91% becoming amyloid PET negative and ARIA-E remaining <5% – – Design of the Phase III TRONTIER 1 and 2 studies of trontinemab in early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease featured, with initiation planned in 2025 – – Plans for new Phase III trial investigating trontinemab in preclinical Alzheimer's disease, in people at high risk of cognitive decline – – New real-world data support Elecsys pTau217 as a standalone blood test, comparable to a PET scan, for rule-in and rule-out identification of amyloid pathology – SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that new data from its Alzheimer's development portfolio is being presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, Canada (July 27-30). These data exemplify the comprehensive approach Roche is taking in addressing Alzheimer's across the entire patient journey. Featured oral presentations include the latest results from the ongoing Phase Ib/IIa Brainshuttle™ AD study, which continue to support rapid and robust reduction of amyloid plaques, and design of the Phase III TRONTIER 1 and 2 studies of investigational trontinemab for early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease, with initiation planned later this year. As part of its growing Alzheimer's development program, Roche announced today its plans for an additional Phase III trial to investigate trontinemab in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. The trial will focus on individuals at risk of cognitive decline, with the goal of potentially delaying or preventing the progression of the disease to symptomatic stages. "Alzheimer's disease represents one of the greatest challenges in healthcare today and tackling it requires early detection and effective therapeutics," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "Trontinemab is designed to target a key driver of Alzheimer's disease biology more effectively in the brain. Combining new treatment avenues with advanced diagnostics may enable earlier and potentially more effective intervention. With plans for Phase III trials in both early symptomatic and preclinical Alzheimer's disease, we are advancing science with the goal of delaying—and ultimately preventing—progression of this devastating condition." Late-breaking oral and poster presentations highlight the potential of Roche's Elecsys® pTau217 as a reliable and accessible blood-based biomarker test, providing comparable results to PET scan and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diagnostics for rule-in and rule-out diagnosis of amyloid pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, across care settings. The test, which received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year, will also be utilized in Roche's TRONTIER studies. "Blood based testing for Alzheimer's disease has the potential to greatly improve patient access and decrease the time to definitive disease diagnosis," said Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics. "Our data show that the Elecsys pTau217 test performs comparably to PET scans but can be performed with a simple blood draw and analyzed in a routine clinical laboratory. This has the potential to transform the diagnosis of Alzheimer's and provide clear answers to caregivers, patients, and their families." Up to 75% of people living with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease globally have not been diagnosed, and those who have, waited an average of 2.8 years, and even less have received any form of treatment. Diagnostics play a crucial role in addressing the global challenge of Alzheimer's, not only to detect and identify people with the disease early, even before the first symptoms, but also to rule out those who may or may not benefit from specific treatments. Pharmaceuticals In a 90-minute Featured Research session, designs were shared for the Phase III studies, TRONTIER 1 and 2, which will initiate later this year, investigating the efficacy and safety of investigational trontinemab in people with early Alzheimer's disease. The primary endpoint will measure the change in cognition and function based on the Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes scale after 18 months of treatment. Secondary endpoints will include assessments of cognition, function, behavioral symptoms, and quality of life. A pre-screening study, TRAVELLER, based on a brief clinical assessment and a plasma biomarker, which will be identified using the Elecsys pTau217 test, has also been initiated, to enable broader community outreach and extend access to these trials to more diverse populations representative of Alzheimer's disease. New data on the latest results for trontinemab from the completed dose-expansion part of the 1.8 mg/kg and 3.6 mg/kg cohorts from the ongoing Phase Ib/IIa Brainshuttle AD study continued to show rapid and robust reduction of amyloid plaques in the brain as measured by amyloid positron emission tomography (PET). In the 3.6 mg/kg cohort, trontinemab reduced amyloid levels below the 24 centiloid positivity threshold in 91% of participants (n=49/54) after 28 weeks of treatment; 72% (n=39/54) achieved deep clearance below 11 centiloids. These data were reinforced by early and significant reductions in fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, including total tau, phosphorylated Tau (pTau)181, pTau217, and neurogranin measured in CSF and continues to show a favourable safety and tolerability profile. Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities-edema/effusion (ARIA-E) continued to be observed in <5% of participants (blinded data; N=4/149 across 1.8 and 3.6 mg/kg dose cohorts). All cases were radiographically mild, one was associated with mild and transient symptoms. Diagnostics Roche will present data on a new study comparing the pTau217/Ab42 plasma ratio to the high-throughput, fully automated Elecsys pTau217 assay. The presentation will report on the accuracy of these tools in detecting amyloid pathology. Together with the high throughput and full automation of the assay, these data will assess the potential of Elecsys pTau217 as an accurate standalone rule-in and rule-out test that could be scaled up for broad implementation in routine clinical practice worldwide. Additionally, results from a cohort-based model of healthcare utilization in the U.S. demonstrated that using the Elecsys® pTau181 blood-based rule-out test in primary care scenarios improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced resource use compared with the current standard-of-care clinical, cognitive and imaging tests. If made available in primary care settings, the Roche Elecsys® pTau181 blood test has the potential to reliably avoid the need for further confirmatory testing in nearly all people who receive a negative result. This will avoid the need for these people to undergo unnecessary testing using CSF or PET, which often come with long wait times and high cost, resulting in further delays to diagnosis and cost to healthcare systems. Medicine Abstract title Presentation number (type) Presentation date (session) Time Abstracts will be available on the AAIC website. Pharmaceuticals Next wave of innovation in Alzheimer's disease therapeutics: The value of novel active transport mechanisms Featured Research Session (FRS), Talk 1 Room 718 27 July 2025, 2pm - 3:30pm EDT Cath Mummery, Roberto Villaseñor, Jens Niewoehner, Scarlett Barker, Luka Kulic Latest results from the dose-expansion part (Part 2) of the Brainshuttle™ AD study of trontinemab in people with Alzheimer's disease Featured Research Session (FRS), Talk 2 Room 718 27 July 2025, 2pm - 3:30pm EDT Luka Kulic, Fabien Alcaraz, Gregory Klein, Stephen Salloway, Carsten Hofmann, João A. Abrantes, Stella Yilmaz, Denise Sickert, Maddalena Marchesi, Jakub Wojtowicz, Andres Schneider, Ruth Croney, David Agnew, Silke Ahlers, Paul Delmar, Hanno Svoboda, Iris Wiesel Interim biomarker results for trontinemab, a novel Brainshuttle™ antibody in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease Featured Research Session (FRS), Talk 3 Room 718 27 July 2025, 2pm - 3:30pm EDT Gregory Klein, Gil Rabinovici, Henrik Zetterberg, Matteo Tonietto, Tobias Bittner, Daria Rukina, Fabien Alcaraz, Carsten Hofmann, Maddalena Marchesi, Jakub Wojtowicz, Ruth Croney, David Agnew, João A. Abrantes, Franziska Schaedeli Stark, Silke Ahlers, Paul Delmar, Hanno Svoboda, Iris Wiesel, Luka Kulic TRONTIER 1 and TRONTIER 2: Pivotal trials of trontinemab in early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease Featured Research Session (FRS), Talk 4 Room 718 27 July 2025, 2pm - 3:30pm EDT Janice Smith, Catherine Mummery, Jeffrey L. Cummings, Gil Rabinovici, Stephen Salloway, Reisa Sperling, Henrik Zetterberg, Angeliki Thanasopolou, Christopher Lane, Paul Delmar, Gregory Klein, Ruth Croney, Jakub Wojtowicz, Carsten Hofmann, Luka Kulic, Hideki Garren Diagnostics Evaluating the Impact on Diagnostic Performance and Healthcare Resource Utilization of Introducing a plasma rule-out test in the Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic Pathway Poster #102729 27 July 2025, 7:30am - 4:15pm EDT Sophie Roth, Gustaf Ortsäter, Joana Amorim Freire Location tbc Evaluating the Clinical Performance of the Elecsys pTau217 Plasma Immunoassay to Detect Amyloid Pathology in a Routine Clinical Practice Cohort Poster #96679 28 July 2025, 7:30am – 4:15pm EDT Sayuri Hortsch, Niels Borlinghaus, Alexander Jethwa, David Caley, Annunziata Di Domenico, Craig Ritchie Clinical performance and effect of pre-analytical variation of plasma pTau217 alone versus the plasma pTau217/Aβ42 ratio for the identification of amyloid pathology Oral Developing Topics #108585 3-23-DEV Developing Topics on Tau Biomarkers 29 July 2025, 2:00pm – 3:30pm EDT Christopher M. Rank, Joana Amorim Freire, Alexander Jethwa, Annunziata Di Domenico, Christina Rabe, Marc Suárez-Calvet, Colin L. Masters, Tobias Bittner Accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker ratios to determine amyloid positron-emission tomography status: a diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis Poster #100941 28 July 2025, 7:30am – 4:15pm EDT Pablo Martinez-Lage, Eino Solje, Julian G. Martins, Sraboni Sarkar Equity in diagnosis through adequate clinical trial design in diagnostic performance studies Poster #102804 30 July 2025, 7:30am - 4:15pm EDT Imke Kirste, David Caley, Clara Quijano Rubio, Margherita Carboni Investigating Differences in Patients Enrolled in a Clinical Study Based on Referral Type Poster #108110 30 July 2025, 7:30am - 4:15pm EDT Sophie Roth, Laura Schlieker, Sayuri Hortsch, Joana Amorim Freire, David Caley About trontinemab Trontinemab is an investigational Brainshuttle bispecific 2+1 amyloid-beta targeting monoclonal antibody specifically engineered for enhanced access to the brain to enable rapid reduction of amyloid in people with Alzheimer's disease. Trontinemab is designed for the efficient transport across the blood-brain barrier to target aggregated forms of amyloid beta and remove amyloid plaques in the brain. The uniqueness of trontinemab is based on Roche's proprietary Brainshuttle technology combining an amyloid beta-binding antibody with a transferring receptor (TfR1) shuttle module. As a result, high central nervous system (CNS) exposure of trontinemab may be achieved at low doses, leading to a rapid and deep amyloid clearance. Due to its unique properties, trontinemab might unlock the full potential of disease-modifying monoclonal antibodies by effectively penetrating the brain and potentially leading to slowing of disease progression. About Roche in Alzheimer's Disease With more than two decades of scientific research in Alzheimer's disease, Roche is working towards a day when we can detect and treat the disease early, in order to slow down, stop or even prevent its progression to preserve what makes people who they are. Today, the company's Alzheimer's disease portfolio spans investigational medicines for different targets, types and stages of the disease, including trontinemab. On the diagnostics side, it also includes approved and investigational tools, including digital and blood-based tests and CSF assays, aiming to more effectively detect, diagnose and monitor the disease. Yet the global challenges of Alzheimer's disease go well beyond the capabilities of science, and making a meaningful impact requires collaboration both within the Alzheimer's community and outside of healthcare. Roche will continue to work together with numerous partners with the hope to transform millions of lives. About Genentech in Neuroscience Neuroscience is a major focus of research and development at Genentech. Our goal is to pursue groundbreaking science to develop new treatments that help improve the lives of people with chronic and potentially devastating diseases. Genentech and Roche are investigating more than a dozen medicines for neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Together with our partners, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding to solve some of the most difficult challenges in neuroscience today. About Genentech Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Meghan Hindman (650) 467-6800Advocacy Contact: Jenee Williams (650) 303-2958Investor Contacts: Loren Kalm (650) 225-3217Bruno Eschli +41616875284 Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
McDonald's (MCD) Financial Health and Dividend Stability for Food Investors
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is included among the 10 Best Food Stocks with Dividends. A cook in a busy kitchen assembling cheeseburgers for orders. McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) has evolved significantly since its peak in the mid-20th century, making ongoing efforts to stay current in a rapidly changing restaurant landscape. Despite some recent softness in sales, the company has managed to remain relevant. It's also favored by investors for its reliable dividend, having raised its payout every year since the mid-1970s— earning it Dividend King status. With a payout ratio near 60% of earnings, the company is well-positioned to sustain its dividend. McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is prioritizing digital platforms, delivery services, and drive-thru operations to drive future sales growth. By enhancing its mobile app, expanding its loyalty program, and teaming up with third-party delivery providers, the company is working to lead in the delivery space while streamlining the ordering experience for customers. On July 23, McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) declared a quarterly dividend of $1.77 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. The company has been growing its payouts for 48 consecutive years, which makes it one of the best food stocks with dividends. The stock has a dividend yield of 2.37%, as of July 27. While we acknowledge the potential of MCD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data