All you need to know about training
Why should I take a training course?
If you are wondering why you should take a training course, just take a moment to read through this. We will identify what makes it so important to engage in lifelong learning.
Training keeps you informed about what is going on in your profession. You will learn the latest news and gain insight into relevant issues that you can then incorporate into your day-to-day activities at any time, and obtain a comprehensive and practical overview of the essentials. Working through real-life examples and discussing matters with other participants will help you subsequently apply all you have learnt directly in your workplace. Consequently, participating in training events will transform you into a subject-matter expert within your company, with the capability to transfer this knowledge at any time. This will in turn help and serve as an incentive for your team.
Training gives you the opportunity to develop yourself further – leadership and soft skills training in particular will contribute greatly to your personal development – and serves as good preparation for switching job or perhaps even earning a promotion. It provides you with new skills you could use to extend your area of responsibility. Training events enable you to exchange ideas with other participants and the speakers, discuss exciting issues and challenges,?and establish contact with people in the industry or in similar positions, thus growing your personal network.
What should I look at when considering a training programme?
There are a few things you should consider when looking for the training programme that would suit you best. This will avoid disappointment later on.
Start by looking at former participants’ opinions and feedback. What they say will give you an idea of the training itself and of what to expect. It is useful to examine the speaker evaluations and to take the speakers’ education, experience and background into account. It is also helpful to evaluate how topical and relevant the subject matter is. Be clear on what you stand to gain from the course by comparing the individual elements with what you already know.
Moreover, get a complete picture of the training provider: look at the number of programmes per year, the available formats, their experience in providing the training and the quality criteria they consider important. It would also be wise to read neutral evaluations by external assessment agencies. Finally, technology is a major factor in online events. Many providers allow you to test your audio and video beforehand. If all is fine, the training can then proceed without incident.
What needs to be clarified beforehand?
There are a number of things to consider when deciding on a training course, before you even think of booking. This ensures that the course you attend is right for you.
Various training formats are available, including online, in-person, in-house and e-learning courses, and webcasts. Choose the one that is most convenient for you. Digital training courses do not tie you to a specific location and eliminate travelling costs and time. E-learning programmes additionally do not tie you to a specific time. The programme you choose should also match your interests. Once you have found a suitable course, compare its content with what you already know. Establish whether it is basic or advanced training that you need, whether it will fit in with your working hours and your free time, whether you fall within the programme’s target group and whether you will receive certification once you have completed the course. At the minimum, this will serve as proof of participation in the training.
What is the current trend in the training sector?
The training sector is constantly evolving and it too is transitioning to digital. Training programmes are becoming increasingly digitalised and ever more events are taking place online. Consequently, the number of online courses is growing consistently. However, there are also many hybrid events. These are courses that are partly in?person and partly online. Despite the transition to digital events, networking is still important. The challenge here is for online training providers to make this doable at digital events too.
Another development is the growing need for a dialogue between the various speakers, with the aim to make the training more varied. One of the benefits of the evolution of the training sector is that individual courses can be booked within a shorter timeframe, eliminating the pressure of having to register early on. This enables you to register at short notice.
