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So you want to be a corporate trainer! Whatever avenue of approach you're taking, the passage to your first position can be relatively easy or heart-breaking. Knowing what the experts know can smooth your travel. Here are a few guidelines garnered from interviews with some of Silicon Valley's top training professionals.
-Make sure you understand the difference between training and education. Training is not just transferring knowledge, it is structuring experiences where the participants take an active role in learning new skills. Sheila Murray Bethel, President of the national professional development firm Bethel Leadership Institute in Burlingame, suggests: "Take a class in adult learning theory and course design. When I first started training I did and it made a big difference in how I designed my seminars."
-Find out what training's really like. Cecile O'Brian, former Employee Relations Manager at Unified Mortgage, interviewed five people in training positions before she made her career change from teaching. As in all positions, training has its pros and cons. Get the inside information from training professionals before burning your bridges behind you.
-Get experience training adults. Everyone interviewed said training experience is one of the major criteria in making a hiring decision. A teaching background may help, but don't count on it giving you automatic entry to training. Have experience training.
How do you get experience? Volunteer at first. O'Brian suggests, "Start out by assisting others in coordination and logistics of public seminars." This way you get to have an overview of the entire training process.
According to Cathy Wassenberg, former Educational Services Director at O'Conner Hospital in San Jose, CA, "The American Cancer Society and the Red Cross are always looking for volunteer instructors. One needn't be technically skilled or have a medical background. They train you to teach earthquake preparedness, stop smoking programs, or other non-medical programs."
-Market programs through community education programs. Pam Jones, former Human Resources Development Manager at National Semiconductor, suggests, "Market your workshops through the YWCA, adult education, the Career Action Center, your school system, your church group, or community colleges."
"Create your own workshops, write your own programs," encourages Nancy Burnside, former Recruitment Manager at National Semiconductor.
And don't overlook your current company. Many firms have after-hours programs which staff members conduct. Or talk with your firm's training department and see if you can facilitate a program for them.
The bottom line is: you need to get as much "stand up" (in front
of a group vs. one-on-one) training with adults as possible.
-Join and become active in professional training associations, e.g., the American
Society of Training and Development. At ASTD I got to meet and know people already
in the training industry to learn how they thought," reported Toni Tauscher,
former Training Specialist at Avantek. Get involved, meet lots of people, attend
programs, hang around with people doing what you want to do.
-Continue your education, whether for credit or not. While some training managers mentioned that they generally look for a bachelor's degree or higher, some said education an applicant had obtained from various sources (e.g., public seminars, personal growth programs, books, internships) was just as valuable. "We look for someone who either has knowledge to share or business experience," comments Dr. Mark Shaw, Human Relations Manager at Applied Materials.
Burnside advocates "conducting projects at companies as part of your studies" so you can understand what it means to work for such companies. Volunteer to undertake special projects coordinating these with your studies and the company's needs.
-Be flexible. Be willing to take a position which is not directly in training, perhaps in human resources or personnel, to learn about an organization. Judy Pierce, former Vice President and Human Resources Director at Bank of the West, explains, "Since I didn't have any experience in business, I took a position as Personnel Assistant in order to get into a corporation. I had my MA but I took a job as a clerk to learn about the company. It was greatÑjust like another year of school."
-Be sincerely enthusiastic. "You need enthusiasm and energy," advises Toni Tauscher. Carol Sisk, Training and Development Manager at Adia Personnel Services adds, "In the field of training, if you don't convey that you're an enthusiastic person, the question will be raised, 'How will this person come across to a group.'"
-Network. "Maintain all your networking contacts," says Terri Elder, former Human Resources Manager at Any Mountain. Sisk echoes this sentiment: "Use your contacts. I've really learned how powerful networking is." Doing it all by yourself makes for a slow and bumpy, as well as lonely, journey.
-Have persistence. Dr. Rick Gilbert, former Training Manager at Hewlett Packard and currently owner of Frederick Gilbert Associates, says persistence is a key to success in training. "You may be told 'no' over and over and over again; you'll be come very discouraged. You have to want to get into training so badly that you're willing to take all sorts of negative responses. If you do push aheadÑif you do have that sense of commitmentÑit will happen, it's just a matter of time." Tauscher agrees this is a major ingredient to successfully finding a position.
Gilbert sums up how to keep going when the going gets difficult. "Keep in touch with what drives you in life; keep in touch with the passion, the vision, the music." If you do, a training position will certainly be in your future."
Copyright 1986 Morgan Seminar Group
Rebecca L. Morgan, CSP, is a dynamic speaker and seminarist. She is the author of four books, "TurboTime: Maximizing Your Results Through Technology," "Calming Upset Customers," "LifeÕs Lessons: Insights and Information for a Richer Life," and "Professional Selling." For information on her speaking services, books, and tapes contact her at 1440 Newport Ave., San Jose, CA 95125, 408/998-7977, 800/247-9662, fax: 408/998-1742, rebecca@RebeccaMorgan.com, www.RebeccaMorgan.com. Please contact Rebecca for permission to reprint or repost this item.
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