In the current, hyper-competitive professional climate, you need to make use of every advantage you can get your hands on. One of those competitive advantages lies in seeking professional training.
This post is sponsored by James Taylor Digital.
Choosing the right provider plays a crucial role in achieving your professional learning goals. Whether you’re looking for technical skills training, leadership development tips, or a way to up your soft-skill capabilities, there are several important factors to consider when choosing a training provider. Let’s take a look at four things that we think you need to look out for.
- Experience
The first thing you want to look for when choosing a training provider is their expertise and experience. You need to select a training provider that has experience in delivering the type of training you need – for example, if you’re looking for software training, you should choose a provider with expertise in the specific software you want to learn.
You should also consider the provider’s industry experience – newer providers may be excellent, but you don’t necessarily want to make that gamble. Ideally, your training provider should have a deep understanding of your industry and the challenges you’re likely to face out in the field; this can help to ensure that the training you’re receiving is relevant and directly applicable to your work.
- Customized training plans
The simple truth is that no two learners are the same, and your training needs are unique to you. To cater to this, you need to choose a training provider that offers customized training solutions. A good training provider will be at least somewhat adaptable, allowing you to design a training program that’s tailored to your exact learning goals.
Customized training solutions could include personalized coaching, learning at your own pace, or courses with customized content. With a personalized training program, you can be confident that you’re getting the training you need to achieve your goals.
- Flexible learning
Flexibility is crucial when it comes to training, especially when it comes to part-time learning. You need to find a training provider that offers flexible learning options that you can fit around your work schedule and learning style, whether that’s through online learning, in-person training, or a blended combination of the two.
- Positive feedback
Finally, it’s important to look for a training provider that other learners have consistently found to operate to a high standard. Looking for online reviews about StaySharp# and other training providers is a great way to gauge the quality of a provider’s training and customer service, to gain an understanding of what your experience is likely to be like.
You can also ask for references from the provider, and speak directly with prior learners about their experience with the provider. If you can ask your colleagues and mentors where they received their training, you may also be able to identify relevant providers that way as well.
Choosing an appropriate training provider is tricky, but it’s well worth the effort. By considering the factors listed above, and others, you can find help to increase the probability that you identify the perfect training provider for your needs, one that will have a direct positive impact on your future career.
