“The essence of training is to allow error without consequence.” - Orson Scott Card

Training is the process by which the Trainer imparts knowledge and skill to the Trainee.  Training has become a very important profession today due to the rise of multi – national and corporate organizations. All these organizations have their own ways of functioning which need to be taught to new employees.

Training is an extremely secure and viable career. There are lots of opportunities in the field of corporate as well as physical training. A Trainer needs to be able to understand what an organization wants, and impart a particular skill to one or more people. The essence of Training is that the imparted skill should stay with the Trainee long after the Training process ends.

What does a Trainer do?

The basic job of a Trainer is to impart skill or knowledge to a group of people. It is not very different from teaching, but involves a more specific and vocational approach.

One of the main jobs of a Trainer is to first understand what is to be taught to the Trainees. This can include a wide variety of subjects ranging from communicational skills to learning new software.

It is the Trainer’s job to conduct a Training Program that manages to impart the particular skill or knowledge within the Trainees. How the Trainer manages to do this, is completely up to him. He can use presentations, activities, case – studies etc.

The Trainer has to make sure he identifies all possible obstacles that the Trainees might face while learning and practicing the imparted skill. He has to make sure his Training Program covers all possibilities and provides solutions to them.

A Trainer has to make sure that the Trainees have gained knowledge and skills from the Training Program. He has to conduct checks to test them, and correct them when they are wrong.

A good Trainer will always motivate his Trainees. Motivated Trainees are more likely to perform better than the ones who’re not motivated. Trainers have to lead by example.

How to become a Trainer?

The job of a Trainer is complex because the outcome does not completely depend on you. It is a dynamic job that does not have set rules.

If you must become a trainer you can take courses in the area of education and organization behaviour. You will understand how people learn and how organizations require its people to grow and perform. A specialization in the area of Human Resources Management could also be useful as it will tell you how organizations manage their people.

But you can become a Trainer after studying almost anything. Engineers can train people on engineering principles, Doctors on medical practices, or business professionals on business methods. Many trainers in the industry are identified as trainers while they are performing other roles in the organization based on their interest and inclination in the area of training and teaching. They supplement their subject knowledge with certificate courses in training and teaching as they move ahead.

Many Trainers also work as Freelancers on a project to project basis.

Find out about the Top 7 Careers for Freelancers.  

To become a Trainer, it is essential to be a good orator. Public Speaking skills are very important for a Trainer. Courses and experiences in Public Speaking will come in handy.

Most of the times, a Trainer has to use presentations in a Training Program. Therefore it is essential for a Trainer to be good in making and delivering presentations. You need to be well –versed with computers and presentation related software.

One of the main qualities of a Trainer is the ability to motivate and lead. Therefore, it is important for a Trainer to take motivation and leadership courses to do well in the profession.

What are the skills required to become a Trainer?

A Trainer’s job is dynamic. He understands that each group or individual he deals with learns in a different way. So, he realizes the importance to be flexible in his methods. Also a good Trainer respects his Trainees and their opinions even if he doesn’t agree with them. A Trainer has to be a good listener. If a trainer is not a good listener, he will not understand whether his trainees understood what they were being taught. Trainers need to have leadership and motivational skills, as these are essential in the process of Training. Also, a Trainer needs to have the ability to answer all questions willingly. Trainers need to be patient, as sometimes the training process might be slow. Most importantly, Trainers need to understand what the organization wants from its employees. He should conduct his Training Program according to the needs of the organization.

Is this the right career for me?

The life of a Trainer is about making presentations, speaking and motivating. You work for long hours, and stand all day delivering presentations. Trainers need to be very careful regarding what they say and how they behave, as Trainees will always look up to the Trainer as a leader. Trainers need to constantly deal with subjects that they are not comfortable with. The main motive of a Trainer is to add value to the clients or Trainees. Trainers always work very hard, but for little or no appreciation.

So if you’re not passionate about helping others learn, interacting with people, and speaking in public, then becoming a Trainer isn’t the right job for you. But if your passion lies in motivating and leading people, and if you don’t mind working without any appreciation, then this is the profession you should be in.