As part of our feature on trainer development, we asked TrainingZONE members to tell us a bit about how they came to be involved in the training profession, and offer some thoughts on what it means to be a trainer today. We received a fantastic selection of responses, which will be published throughout the month. Here, Lynn Wood, an IT Trainer gives her response.
- What's your current job role?
IT Trainer managing the IT Training for Aberdeen (600), Newcastle (150) and Norway (150). Work alongside IT department and do TNA, schedule and train. Write manuals and develop training courses for both MS courses, other software and bespoke software. Report to managers. Get involved in new software projects before implementation and plan training projects with these new projects.
- What did you do before this job?
Immediately prior to this job, I worked for a training company selling training for a year. Prior to that, worked for a training company originally attached to a Computer company and was a senior trainer working mostly on client sites.
- Describe your route into training
I worked for a computer company as a department secretary and developed into working with sales demonstrating software to clients. I became the in-house trainer for our new e-mail system alongside this role. A trainer for our customer training department was ill and no other trainers were available locally at such short notice and a class of 8 customers waiting. They asked me to take the course (on word processing) which I did and was invited to join the customer training dept.
- Did you always want to work in training and development?
I quite liked the idea of being a teacher, but as I had a music degree, I neither fancied being a piano teacher nor teaching kids!
- What would you say has been the most significant event in your career to date?
Taking over the customer training and getting a terrific job satisfaction that my class learnt so much (and I still do).
- How do you think the role of the trainer has changed since you began your training career?
Training courses are much quicker and are always tailored. (I remember spending half a day on the printing facilities of a word processor!).
- What single thing would improve your working life?
Management commitment (but nothing changes!).
- What's your favourite part of the TrainingZONE site?
Community Any Answers.
- Do you have any advice for those looking to embark on a career in training?
Don't do it(!). It's an exhausting job and needs a lot of stamina because you are "on" all the time. Having said that, it's the most rewarding job.
- What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the trainer today?
Trying to make managers understand that "blended learning" means student self-motivation to learn, which in most companies is set to 20%.
