Are you wondering whether or not a career in training & development is for you? Maybe you’re in a job that you dislike, but you’ve developed some training programs and really enjoyed it. Perhaps you’re a college student wondering what type of career fits your skills, or a teacher who would rather teach adults. Or, maybe you are a trainer but unsure if it’s the right fit. If any of these descriptions sound like you, read on.
To be sure, a career in training and development can be satisfying. But in order to enjoy and excel at it, you should have at least some of the following skills and personality traits.
The Necessary Skills
Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills are critical for anyone entering the field of learning and development. You’ll need to be able to speak in front of large and small groups as well as write effectively for a wide range of audiences.
Interpersonal Skills: Training professionals must have good “people skills.” Superb listening skills are required to successfully identify the needs of your audience. It’s also important to be socially perceptive—so that you’re aware of others' reactions and can adjust your message and approach as needed. Because most trainers act as consultants within their own organizations, it’s important to be able to develop constructive working relationships with others.
Creative Thinking: Training and development professionals need to be able to think creatively to design new programs and approaches to get their information across.
Planning and Attention to Detail: Training and development professionals must be capable of putting together detailed plans and materials to support their educational programs.
Technology Skills: It’s increasingly important for training and development professionals to be technologically savvy. All trainers need to know how to use technology in the classroom, as well as how to effectively use learning management systems and online meeting platforms.
To be sure, a career in training and development can be satisfying. But in order to enjoy and excel at it, you should have at least some of the following skills and personality traits.
The Necessary Skills
Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills are critical for anyone entering the field of learning and development. You’ll need to be able to speak in front of large and small groups as well as write effectively for a wide range of audiences.
Interpersonal Skills: Training professionals must have good “people skills.” Superb listening skills are required to successfully identify the needs of your audience. It’s also important to be socially perceptive—so that you’re aware of others' reactions and can adjust your message and approach as needed. Because most trainers act as consultants within their own organizations, it’s important to be able to develop constructive working relationships with others.
Creative Thinking: Training and development professionals need to be able to think creatively to design new programs and approaches to get their information across.
Planning and Attention to Detail: Training and development professionals must be capable of putting together detailed plans and materials to support their educational programs.
Technology Skills: It’s increasingly important for training and development professionals to be technologically savvy. All trainers need to know how to use technology in the classroom, as well as how to effectively use learning management systems and online meeting platforms.
The Most Effective Personality Traits
Extroverted: Most of the training and development professionals I know are more extroverted than introverted, especially if they are engaged in training delivery. However, if you love teaching people but don’t like getting up in front of big groups, don’t cross this field off your list. There are many opportunities for people who enjoy teaching smaller groups or using online platforms. So, if you’re an introvert, you might enjoy instructional design or training of a more technical nature. Finally, many introverts do enjoy training large groups, just be aware of your tolerance for time with people versus your need for "alone time" when considering this career path.
Idea Person: If you think of yourself as an “idea person,” developing new programs and ways to present concepts should come naturally to you. If you’ve ever taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), you were probably identified as having a preference for Intuition and you would have an “N” in your Myers-Brigg type.
Read Full Article Here: Is Training and Development the Right Career for You?
No comments:
Post a Comment