This article is for anyone who is interested in pursuing a career as a training professional.
A career in training is extremely rewarding and has many benefits, but how do you get started? This guide will help you launch your professional training career and give you loads of practical advice to help you along your journey.
For those seeking to use their knowledge and passion to edify or motivate others, taking on the role of a trainer is a great fit.
Yet, being a trainer requires more than just enthusiasm; it necessitates competence in the subject matter, along with credentials or extensive experience. If your confidence is lacking due to a perceived lack of necessary skills, don’t worry: there are plenty of ways for you to cultivate these abilities whilst boosting your self-assurance.
Developing Your Core Skills As A Trainer
Being a professional trainer means having a long-term commitment to professional development and continuous improvement.
Like many professions, your skills can be honed and developed over time as you gain more experience.
Having the right abilities is paramount for trainers wanting to craft successful and tailored training sessions that meet the needs of their learners.
Fortunately, developing your core training skills is extremely accessible as there are plenty of high quality training courses available specifically for trainers at different points in their career.
To start with, you should focus on developing a core set of skills. The following set of skills are a must for professional training jobs, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to gain valuable experience in them by attending training and gaining practical experience where possible.
Core Skill #1: Communication Techniques (Verbal, Non-Verbal, Listening & Writing)
Communication is a key element of training delivery, assessment, feedback and networking with learners.
Your role as a trainer is to be approachable, engaging and passionate about your subject area, but communicating with ease in a training environment does not come easily.
Even if you’re a self-proclaimed ‘people person’ with a natural flair for public speaking, communication within a training environment has a unique dynamic to it that needs careful preparation beyond presentation skills.
You’ll also need to:
- Have the ability to clearly and effectively communicate information and ideas to individuals or groups
- Learn techniques for active listening and understanding the needs of your individual learners
- Understand the use of body language, tone, and vocal delivery and how you can use it to convey meaning and impart knowledge
Core Skill #2: Inclusive Teaching Strategies
Creating an inclusive learning environment is key when training others. This goes beyond catering to different learning styles, instead it’s about fully understanding and respecting the diverse needs of your learners.
Inclusive teaching means valuing and recognising the unique characteristics of every individual, making sure everyone feels welcome and respected.
To make this happen, you’ll need to get to know your learners, their backgrounds, and what they hope to achieve from the training then tailor your teaching methods accordingly.
Be aware of any barriers to learning, whether it be physical, cultural or language, and remove them. By creating an inclusive learning environment, you ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.
Core Skill #3: Planning and Organisation
“Just show up and wing it!” – that’s an actual disaster for failure right there.
Having a plan is crucial for a trainer. It keeps you on track and helps you hit all the important points. Clear goals and objectives give you direction and focus.
Organising and structuring the training session makes it more effective and manageable for both you and your learners.
- Variety in your delivery methods keeps it interesting.
- Allowing time for breaks and interactive activities keeps learners engaged.
- Planning is an ongoing and flexible process, always be open to adjustments and improvements.
Knowing how to plan a training session is critical to ensuring your learners have a great learning experience. From setting out objectives, using different teaching methods and completing assessments – there’s a lot to take into account!
Core Skill #4: Training Delivery Methods
Choosing the right methods is crucial for delivering an effective training session. They say that variety is the spice of life – but it’s also the key ingredient to an engaging training session!
It’s normal to have an endless stream of distractions flowing through our minds at any given time, and it’s sometimes hard to stay completely focussed when you’re trying to learn.
As a trainer, you need to be aware of that and ensure your sessions have enough variety and flow to keep people engaged.
In the age of TikTok and Instagram reels, our attention spans are shorter than ever!
So, don’t be afraid to experiment by mixing up your sessions with presentations or expert talks, group discussions, case studies, videos, hands-on activities, or incorporate humour into your sessions (where appropriate.)
Core Skill #5: Providing Constructive Feedback
Offering supportive feedback is an integral part of a trainer’s job, allowing learners to comprehend their current state and what they need to do to progress.
But how can this be done in a non-critical, constructive way?
Constructive criticism helps learners recognise and accept their areas for improvement, without making them lose hope.
The ultimate goal of providing feedback is to help someone improve – not to criticise. Therefore, feedback is a two-way interaction.
Professional Training Qualifications
Qualifications are a great way to show employers that you’ve got the skills and knowledge to be a top-notch trainer.
But, with so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start.
Let’s break it down.
Train The Trainer: Level 2
First up, there’s Train the Trainer Level 2. This is a great intro course for anyone new to the training game. You’ll learn the basics of teaching and get to practice your skills with a short “microteach”.
This qualification is for those new into the role of a trainer.
The course will enable you to:
- Plan learning sessions with clear objectives
- Adapt your training sessions to make them suitable for different learners
- Make learning fun and impactful,
- Use different methods of assessment to check whether learning has taken place.
It is delivered over 4 half day workshops plus a 20 minute micro-teach.
Train The Trainer: Level 3
Next, there’s the Training Skills Level 3. This course delves significantly deeper and expects you to have a bit more knowledge under your belt.
This course is suitable for anyone looking to become an accredited tutor or trainer. You may be new to the teaching or training sector; thinking of a career in training and development, or already training / tutoring and would like to become accredited.
The course is delivered over 5 half day workshops which develop your knowledge and skills of training techniques. There is some home study, a tutoring session and a 20 minute micro-teach.
Through attending this course, you will be able to:
- Plan, design and deliver a training session using appropriate methods
- Engage learners using a range of techniques and manage a learning environment
- Monitor, assess and evaluate training
- Reflect on own practice and identify areas for development
The total duration of the course is approximately 8 weeks.
Award in Education and Training Level 3 (formerly PTLLS)
The Award in Education and Training Level 3 (formerly PTLLS) is widely recognised in the industry and involves 3 assignments, exploring inclusive learning and assessment in more depth, the microteach is longer and you are expected to use multiple methods in your teaching.
This qualification will enable you to:
- Plan inclusive learning sessions
- Identify roles and responsibilities of a trainers
- Use a range of training techniques to deliver engaging sessions
- Identify assessment methods to use to check knowledge and understanding
- Give constructive feedback to develop your learners
The course takes between 3-6 months to complete and is open to participants from any industry or position.
Certificate in Learning and Development Level 3
And last but not least, there’s the Certificate in Learning and Development Level 3. If you’re looking to be a tutor, trainer, or assessor in this field, this qualification will take about a year and you will be expected to both teach and assess against industry or occupational standards.
This qualification is delivered though monthly workshops and mentoring visits from a Learning Advisor, who will support and advise you to develop your knowledge and skills in learning and development. You will also carry out self-study and develop training sessions and materials.
The course takes between 9-15 months to complete. Participants of this course need to be in a training-based role.
Which Training Qualification Should You Choose?
This really depends on you current level of experience, and the responsibilities of the job you’re applying for.
The main differences between the four training qualifications are the level of depth, experience and knowledge required, and the focus of the course.
Train the Trainer Level 2 is an introduction to how you train others and is designed for individuals new to the training field. It covers the basics of teaching and provides an opportunity for participants to practice their skills with a short “microteach”.
This is ideal for you if you’re just getting started in your training career or you don’t have much professional experience with training.
Training Skills Level 3 is a more advanced course that explores the topics in more depth and is designed for individuals with more knowledge and experience.
This is suitable for individuals who have more knowledge and experience in the training field and are ready to ‘level-up’ and take on more responsibilities.
The Award in Education and Training Level 3 (formerly PTLLS) is widely recognized in the industry and is designed for individuals who want to teach and assess learners in any learning and development setting. It covers inclusive learning and assessment in more depth, and requires participants to use multiple methods in their teaching.
The Certificate in Learning and Development is more in-depth, suitable for individuals who are required to both teach and assess against industry or occupational standards.
This is well-suited for trainers and assessors in technical industries where learners must pass an assessment according to a set of regulatory standards.
It is a one-year program, so it needs a longer commitment than the other qualifications.
In short, Train the Trainer Level 2 and Training Skills Level 3 are shorter courses spanning multiple days with a written and practical assessment at the end, whereas The Award in Education and Training Level 3 and the Certificate in Learning and Development are longer learning programmes that take several months or over a year to complete.
Can You Complete A Training Qualification With A Full-Time Job?
All of these qualifications can be completed alongside a full-time or part-time job, in fact they’re intended to be completed that way. This will usually require the support and cooperation of your employer.
Career Opportunities For Trainers
When it comes to jobs in training, there’s a whole world of options out there.
You could go the freelancing route and specialize in a certain topic, using platforms like LinkedIn to connect with potential clients. Or, you could work in-house with a Learning and Development (L&D) department in a big company, delivering set programs of training, often focused on compliance for that industry.
If you’re tech-savvy, you could even create your own online training courses, using platforms like Thinkific or Teachable to record and market them.
Each option has its own set of pros and cons.
Becoming a Freelance Trainer
Freelancing gives you the freedom to choose your own clients and schedule, but it also means you’re on your own when it comes to finding work.
You have to take into consideration so many other things, such as:
- Insurance
- Holiday pay and sick pay
- Your own pension
- Paying your own taxes
- Marketing your services
- Providing your own equipment, laptop, software, etc
- Invoicing and expenses
- Bookkeeping
- Admin and data protection
Working in a Learning & Development Team
Working in an L&D department gives you a steady wage and a great team to work with, but it may not offer as much creative freedom.
When you’re working for someone else, there may be strict rules and regulations over your job role, time and schedule. However, some organisations allow their staff more creative freedom to come up with innovative ideas, but it really depends on the environment and culture of your workplace.
LinkedIn is a great place to find training opportunities in modern, forward-thinking companies. Read our guide on how to make the best use of LinkedIn to finding training jobs here.
Creating Online Courses
Creating online courses is a great way to reach a wider audience, but it also requires a bit more tech know-how and marketing skills.
However, platforms like Teachable, Thinkific and SkillShare make it easier than ever to write, record, upload, promote and sell your training to people online.
The main benefit of creating online courses is that you have the ultimate freedom over your course content, delivery style and schedule.
You may choose to offer:
- Live online training sessions to a group of learners
- 1-2-1 live online training sessions via Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams
- Pre-recorded training that learners can access 24/7
Live online training has the added benefit of being able to respond the learner’s questions, prompt discussions and forge connections during the session.
But pre-recorded training only needs to be written and recorded once and it can be sold to (potentially) millions of people!
You could also use Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn adverts to target specific people who you want to sign up to your course. This can be extremely lucrative with the right strategies in place.
Browse our library of online training courses for inspiration!
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it – our complete guide on how to become a professional trainer! Whether you’re a recent graduate, a career-changer, or someone who’s passionate about a subject, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to become a training professional.
Training qualifications are readily accessible to everyone and can be completed alongside your other commitments such as your family, job or full-time education.
With the right qualifications, skills and experience, you can land a job that’s both fulfilling and financially rewarding.
Remember, continuous improvement and ongoing personal development is your key to staying competitive in this field, so don’t be afraid to keep learning and growing as a trainer.
You can use your own initiative during your job search by attending conferences, workshops, or online courses with the view to network with others as well as learn.
There are a wide range of opportunities available for those interested in becoming a trainer. Not only will it boost your skills but it will also help you stand out in a competitive job market and give your learners the best experience possible.
We wish you all the best with your journey to becoming a trainer!
