Things You Should Know Before Signing Up For a Corporate Training Course
Many companies believe that sending their employees to a corporate training course will help them improve their skills and become more successful at work. However, if you’re thinking about signing up for one of these courses, here are some things you should know before you sign up.
Do Your Research
Yes, you can learn skills from a corporate training course; however, if your company doesn’t provide at least partial coverage of your tuition (or if they don’t offer any training courses at all), then you may want to consider whether it makes sense for you to spend hard-earned money on a course. Search online forums and discussion boards to see what others in your industry have experienced with these kinds of programs. If many people seem happy with their experience, then it may be worth enrolling—if not, it could be a waste of time and money. Just remember that just because someone is using a program doesn’t mean that they’re happy with it or would recommend it to others!
Consider the Format
There are two primary formats that training providers will offer: live-in-person classes or online classes. Which one is right for you? There’s no perfect answer, because it depends on what you’re looking for. Live courses are great if you want to interact with your instructor and other students in real time, but such courses require traveling to a location and paying tuition. They also may not be an option if you don’t have enough vacation time available.
How effective are they?
There are a few different ways to evaluate how effective a corporate training program is. I’d start by doing some research on each of these companies—where they offer courses, what kind of credentials they have, and what kind of results they have achieved with their trainees. In addition to speaking to employees who have attended these programs in person, it would be helpful to speak with one or two HR professionals who work at organizations that use these training programs. They can give you an insider’s perspective on whether or not they think they provide value for your business.
Realistic Expectations
The first and most important thing to do before you sign up for a corporate training course is to determine your expectations. What are you looking to get out of it? If your main goal is learning technical skills, ask yourself how quickly you’ll pick up those skills. If a boot camp-style class isn’t appropriate for your goals, consider looking into an online course instead—that way, you can spend as much time as needed on each skill set and won’t have to worry about competing with others. And if technical skills aren’t what you’re interested in getting out of a training program, make sure that’s reflected in your decision-making process. Are there other ways it can help advance your career or professional interests? How so?
Cost vs Value
While you may be able to find a boot camp for less than $500, its actual worth is not in what you pay for it but what you get out of it. In many cases, these programs charge more because they offer a lot more than many smaller offerings. However, if you are going to spend money on training, look for providers that have worked with companies like yours and/or will provide ongoing support after your session is completed. Depending on your needs, that could include developing customized job aids or personalized coaching sessions. While it may cost more upfront, knowing that you’re getting enough value to justify an investment makes spending money much easier in the long run.
Level of Instructor Involvement
The level of instructor involvement differs from course to course. In-person training, for example, typically requires instructors to be present on a daily basis. Online courses are designed so that students can work at their own pace with minimal guidance from instructors. Finally, blended courses often incorporate aspects of both online and in-person training and involve instructors in various ways throughout each course session. These distinctions help determine where corporate training will fit into your organization’s needs assessment and program planning process. It’s also important to take factors such as location, duration and number of participants into account when looking at potential corporate training providers for your specific business needs.
Measuring Results
While classroom training has many benefits, it can also be extremely costly. Going to a three-day seminar that costs $1,000 or more—and doesn’t help you accomplish your goal—can put you back thousands of dollars. So how do you ensure that you’re getting quality results from a corporate training course? Here are a few questions to ask when considering whether or not to enroll in a program: Does the program have an objective measure of whether it has met its stated objectives? If yes, what is it?
Return On Investment (ROI)
When you enroll in a corporate training course, there’s often a return on investment (ROI) associated with taking it. This means that if you can prove you’ve learned from it—which is typically measured by passing some sort of test or exam—you can recoup some of your costs for taking it. When calculating ROI for a training course, consider how much time and money you spent to get educated versus what you could make back by passing an exam or completing other types of assignments. As with any investment, evaluating your ROI upfront will help ensure that you aren’t wasting your time and money.