What Exactly Does an HR Generalist Do in Training & Development? Seeking Your Insights

Dear All,

Greetings!

Could you please tell me the ideal or standard role of an HR Generalist in Training & Development? Apart from Induction training, does organizing training sessions for staff members or also conducting soft skills sessions fall under the role of an HR generalist?

I would be very grateful to all the members if they could shed some light on my query and list all the activities related to Training & Development handled by an HR generalist.

Earlier, I posted the same query in the T & D section but didn't receive any replies. So, I am hoping for your response here. :( :( :( :( :(

Thank you for your attention and assistance.

Hi Swati,

Following your query related to the T&D part of HR, there are various activities as outlined below:

For new joiners:

- Company orientation program or induction
- Policy download or awareness program
- Creating awareness about Company's Code of Conduct & Disciplinary procedures

For existing employees:

- Training Needs Analysis
- SWOT Analysis: to convert opportunity areas into strengths by providing proper coaching and counseling about threats that could assist them in achieving their targets or common company goals
- Maintaining a proper training calendar and coordinating with HODs of concerned departments regarding nominations or names of team members who require appropriate training and asking them to specify the subject
- Assigning a specific date for receiving nominations from all HODs
- Drafting training modules as per the requirement
- Compiling names of team members from all departments requiring training on the same subject
- Designing a training calendar accordingly
- Creating a well-designed "training feedback form" to be filled by all trainees after the completion of a session
- Collecting hardcopy and softcopy of those forms and consolidating them in a file to present an impressive view to your seniors as an initiative or an achievement

I hope this clarifies your query to some extent!

Regards,
Anu:p

Thanks, Anu, but at the same time, I would like to know one more thing as you said: Drafting training modules as per the requirement. What kind of training module? Whether training modules are related to soft skill training or technical, we don't have knowledge of the same. If soft skills, can HR generalists also take these sessions for their staff members? If yes, will it be as effective if taken by in-house HR instead of a trainer from outside? Please highlight.

Swati,

Training in a Generalistic profile is equivalent to a Training Manager's job. Hence, please have no preconceived notions about the same; there are no defined or specified guidelines for this role.

Dear Swati,

For T&D, specialization is a must. You can consider that an HR generalistic profile is equivalent to that of a training manager to some extent. However, individuals who have completed a diploma in T&D are the right fit for such roles. The T&D diploma can be obtained from ISTD Delhi, and the course duration is one and a half years. If you have any queries, please let me know.

Jai Bakshi

Hi Swati,

In my experience, technical training cannot be conducted by an HR generalist unless the organization's induction program includes technical certification. Regarding soft skills training, many HR generalists undertake this based on the trainee's grade and educational background. For managerial cadre and above, you would need an external soft skills trainer. Another option is to select a high-performing employee to attend a quality soft skills certification program and then conduct training with their assistance. This initiative can also serve as a job enrichment opportunity. :)

Dear Swati,

I agree to the above responses.

As you would be aware that the trainings needs are identified via various sources i.e. training needs identified during Recruitment, Appraisal-TNI, Project kick off meets, strategic business needs, RBT-Role Based Training and sometimes the need is identified post-training incase re-training is to be done. Training person has to capture the training needs or identify the training gaps and fulfill those gaps via trainings within specified time. Monitoring is the major role of a training person. Trainings can be done internally or externally.... If we are doing trainings internally then trainings can be done by the SME-subject matter expert or internal trainer who has skills for the specified job.

There are various types of training i.e. technical, behavioral, Functional, process/Quality related, induction and generic trainings. Depending on the training team expertise and interest s/he can prepare the training modules and execute the same.

Following are the major activities of training team:-
1. Preparing tactical annual plan for training by meeting Top management and Group heads.
2. Tactical Plan will be broken further into quarterly or monthly plan and the calendar is prepared i.e. Training Calendar
3. Training Process is to be in place with all the required forms, templates and formats.
4. Announcing Training calendar. Post announcing calendar announce individual training program to seek nominations.
5. Invitation to be send to all the participants who suppose to attend the training.
6. Entire logistics to be arranged for the program i.e. Software installation etc etc.
7. Ensuring the smooth start of the program. Training coordinator to circulate the attendance sheet
8. If possible verbal feedback can be taken in breaks as everything is going on fine and take a corrective action.
9. Finally a formal feedback to be taken during the end of the session.
10. Feedback Analysis to be done.
11. Incase feedback come below a certain expectation then CAR- Causal Analysis for be done
11. Post training, 2 or 3 months down the line training effectiveness feedback has to be taken and based on the feedback Skills Matrix needs to be updated.

This is not the end… There are various mediums of training like : Classroom trainings, CBTs, WBTs, Webinars, workshops, Seminars, On the job training, mentoring, Coaching etc etc….

I hope the above points will help you and please feel free for any further clarification/s.

Regards

Sajid Patel