Starting a Career in Training: Seeking Advice on Courses and Next Steps

Dear friends,

I am Neelam, currently working with SP Jain Institute of Management and Research in Mumbai as a Research Assistant. I am keen on working in the field of training and have a few queries:

1) How should I go about it?
2) How helpful would it be to do a course in Training from ISTD Delhi?

It would be great if you could please help!

Regards,
Neelam

Hi Neelam,

It is a very wide area. I need to know what your area of specialization is. You can become a good trainer provided:

1) You are passionate about this field - There are many trainers in all areas, but only a few of them are successful trainers. It requires a lot of skills like communication, presentation, etc. (Technical skills for technical trainers). Your success depends on how you do things differently (Your USP). For example, Stephen Covey, Arindam Chaudary, Shiv Khera, etc.

2) Getting academic knowledge and degrees is not difficult compared to performing in practical situations. Achieving training objectives is one of the biggest challenges today. Many companies measure ROI on training. The training field is a very exciting area where you can learn and share your knowledge every day. A bit of caution - not everyone may be suited to this field. Refer to point 1.

Thank you for your response.

I am very passionate about this field but have no experience at all. I am considering joining as an assistant in training in an organization to learn how everything is done. Given my lack of experience, what are my chances of entering this field?

I will attach my resume for your reference.

Regards,
Neelam.

Hi Neelam,

This is Himanshu, and I have been in the Training & Development field for the last 6 years.

According to me, to be a trainer, you should be interested in communicating, reading, listening, and observation. If this interests you, then your first step in identifying yourself as trainer material is checked.

In matters of professional training institutes like ISTD, they are of great help; however, they do not guarantee that a great trainer will emerge from them. They provide good learning exposure and environment. But that's not the only way to become a good trainer (frankly speaking, I haven't been to any professional training institute). The most important thing is that you take up training in which you are interested. For example, I was interested in soft skill training, so I pursued training and exposure in soft skills. I read good articles, practice, books, watch movies, surf websites related to my training material, and equip myself for the same. In that way, you need to strategize your growth and knowledge bank in some way.

My advice to you would be to identify a role model in training and get trained under him/her for the skills/knowledge that you want to impart to people. Don't copy or mimic him/her, but definitely keep an eye on the best and most effective methodologies that he/she uses in the training program. Learn about different trends in training, learn the art of understanding people and engaging with them, become a patient listener, and communicate effectively. Later, if you wish to take up training programs from ISTD, that would be advisable but not at the initial stage.

Have a great time, and I hope I was able to provide an appropriate answer to your query.

Regards,

Himanshu

Dear Neelam,

A good question to ask - meaning till date not many have stumbled upon a "right" answer. The point is there is no "right" answer. It's only about what works for you - that becomes your method.

ISTD is more like a license. Not having it really doesn't make any difference - however, having it wouldn't do much either except for the fact that once your resume talks about you holding that Diploma, it means you are aware of how to run a T&D department along with necessary protocols, which also covers a great deal of HR subjects.

If you want to get into training and provided that you have the time to experiment, you can begin to conduct small workshops. Now, there's always been a question of what to do - whether a behavioral workshop or a technical workshop should be conducted. Whatever your choice may be, ask the question "why should someone come to you or accept your services or for that matter - even listen and look upon you as a trainer?". If you have a reason - then find a method to do it!

If you are still studying, conduct small workshops in your college with fellow students or juniors. If in an organization, take up an initiative to do a workshop for your select employees (say 3-5). That will give you a start and a mental readiness (attitude) of what to go for and how to go about it.

That is a good way to start. Another wild way to go for it is to find a trainer (who has a name in the industry) and become his assistant - yep, you got it right. Work for a small fee, of course, but your objective is to learn how things work from backstage. While you coordinate and handle the business development for them, suggest ways of how a certain thing could have made an impact on their program content. Once you get there, you will know what to say. Get their buy-in to allow you to conduct basic ice-breakers before he runs the show.

It's like the concert act - you do the opening act and then give it to the lead band to do their bit. You get noticed, you make contacts. Time to use them.

This is a very generic view, and I might like to talk about it as a guiding framework of how you can "be" in this field or simply where to start.

Other posters will have much to add to this. You know you can ask around which are good courses to start with if you want to do Behavioral training. Do a couple of recognized courses from them, and then we can hear about you on ASTD or Introducing India's leading trainer... 8)

Best Wishes,

Nad

Thank you to all my dear friends for your replies. I feel energized and motivated after reading them. I want to pursue behavioral training, although I have no direct experience, I have read many motivational books. I have also completed a TA 101 course (Transactional Analysis).

I have been considering taking on a role as an assistant somewhere. I have posted my resume on Naukri.com and Monster, but unfortunately, I have not received any responses. Can you suggest some companies in Mumbai? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.