Training: An Educated Consumer's Guideby Martha Bednarz |
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Maintaining and increasing your skills are some of the best ways to ensure you have career options. Although training is vital, it is also time-consuming and costly. So choosing your training carefully becomes doubly important.
When selecting training seminars, shop around. Ask training organizations to provide course outlines so you can evaluate the content. Be clear on whether it is a hands-on workshop or a lecture. Most courses try to have a balance.
Check the qualifications of instructors. Make sure the instructor has ample experience in teaching and training. Subject-matter experts don't always make good teachers. (Remember the renowned professor giving the worst college lectures?) Ask for references from previous attendees.
Many training organizations offer discounts and other money-saving incentives of one type or another. Some offer discounts for multiple attendees in the same seminar. (Why not take a course with a couple of friends to obtain a discount?) Some offer discounts to those who plan on attending several seminars in a set time period.
Companies can negotiate many types of training discounts even if they are not advertised. Always ask the training organization about incentives. There may be cost advantages in working with one training organization that meets most of your needs.
One training organization, SOLUTIONS, Inc., offers a unique way for companies to turn their underutilized meeting rooms into savings on seminars. Companies can become part of a training consortium by providing meeting space for seminars. Any company with facilities for a group of 20 can be a host. In exchange, companies can send two participants free of charge to any seminar they host.
In-house training offers several benefits to companies with a group of people all wanting the same course. In-house training is usually cheaper per person than the same seminar taught on a public basis. Training organizations will customize courses at low cost or even no cost. And, of course, there are no travel expenses for attendees.
STC provides many excellent sources of training at low cost. Local STC programs and workshops are planned in response to members' requests. They provide real training value as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals. If you want a particular program topic that hasn't been offered, ask for it.
Another source of STC training is the annual conference. The STC conference offers pre-conference workshops as well as about 60 different presentations. Local conferences, such as InterChange, are yet another resource.
Getting fresh ideas, new insights, and improved skills through training can make your work easier and keep your professional outlook healthy. Use your time and money to best advantage; choose your training carefully.
Martha Bednarz is principal of ONYX Communications, Inc. and a writer specializing in technical marketing materials. She is also a seminar leader for SOLUTIONS, Inc. and an instructor at Northeastern University.