Companies nowadays want employees who possess a range of skills; from project management to being tech-savvy. However, keeping up with such rapid demands can be tough for busy professionals. This is where a Corporate Trainer jumps in. Corporate trainers are guides and educators responsible for the education and growth of employees and corporations.
Not only is corporate training becoming a hot profession these days but it also happens to pay decently well. In this article, you will find all the relevant information regarding becoming a corporate trainer that one could find.
Who is a Corporate Trainer?
Simply, they are experts responsible for the career development of professionals. However, more broadly, their responsibilities and roles are pretty spread-out. They are career coaches, course & content developers, and employee performance analysts.
Studies have shown that investing in corporate training professionals is rewarding and helps boosts revenues and ROIs. As a matter of fact, companies that invest in employee training report a 218% higher income per employee.
A corporate trainer is a specialist responsible for increasing a company’s productivity by teaching new skills and knowledge to employees. They use seminars, lectures, and team exercises to update employees on company goals and procedures. Also referred to as a Technical Trainer
-BetterTeam.
Responsibilities of a Corporate Trainer
- Assess training requirements of employees: The first role of this job is to act as an analyst who assesses all the lacks in the working ecosystem of a company. Much like a doctor, these professionals prepare a diagnoses and then come up with prospective solutions to help with the problems.
- Design and review training content: Secondly, they design specialized trainign programs with specific content targeting the issue areas. This particular aspect of the job requires these professionals to also be experts as course creators. After all, in this digital age being an instructor also means one has sufficient knowledge of online course creation.
- Conduct training programs: Thirdly, a bit more obvious, trainers have to conduct the training programs and deliver the courses effectively in order for the learning employees to fully grasp the knowledge. They have to ensure content clarity and at the same time also keep learners engaged.
- Evaluate and update: Finally, the effectiveness of any program rests on its ability to thoroughly review and revise itself. It is crucial as a trainer and content creator that one seeks feedback. Feedbacks help with keeping the programs up-to-date and cover-up any drawbacks in the programs.
Career options for Corporate Trainers
As mentioned above, corporate training is a broad field within itself. Here are some of the options that aspirants can look into and determine which field would suit them best.
- Crew trainer
- Development manager
- Education manager
- Learning and development specialist
- Learning consultant
- Organizational development consultant
- Staff development specialist
- Training coordinator
- Training specialist
- Instructional design specialist
How much do Corporate Trainers make?
According to Glassdoor, the average annual income of a corporate trainer is $71,907 with a based pay of $53,845 and additional pay of $18k per year. If you’re just starting out, the average annual income is $65k with 0-1 year of experience. While, $68k annual income for 1-3 years of experience. Here’s the real-time findings.
How to become a Corporate Trainer?
Find your niche
As you know by now, corporate training is not one job but rather an umbrella term for a multiplicity of jobs. Therefore, it is advised to be specific regarding your interest. That is to say, find your niche.
Take a look around and do a deep dive into the realm of corporate training. Read up on it and consult fellow trainers. Then try to think of which element interests you the most. Isolate your interests and assess your prospects, and finally, you will have hit your niche right on the mark.
Get a degree
A certification makes the title legitimate. Moreover, it provides you an extra edge over your competition. If you have the resources, then do apply for a university program. However, having a college degree is not a primary requirement. You can also apply for diploma programs or short-term courses, depending on your situation.
These days there are a variety of online options for professionals to skill up. Here is our brief compilation of courses that prospective trainers should take a look at.
Get licensed
Having a license is crucial for practicing any profession nowadays. Much like a degree, they are a validation of your skill and give further leverage to your profile. In the United States, the Institute of Management Consultants United States is responsible for issuing licenses to these professionals. Make sure to check out the licensing authorities in your respective regions.
Build a portfolio
Having a degree and certification is useless against the cut-throat market competition without the experience. This is why ensure that you also actively participate in workshops, webinars, and additional projects along with working on certification. Thankfully, online courses these days are mindful of this and offer multiple opportunities to help with portfolio building.
A strong portfolio will advocate for your work on your behalf. Besides, while working on your portfolio, you will also get to make important connections and will be able to promote your profile, leading up to some exciting opportunities.
Market yourself
A corporate trainer operates in the service industry, and anybody working in this industry, they are well aware of how crucial marketing is for them. Learn to advertise your skills in the right places, that is what marketing is about. Here are a few ways in which you can market yourself.
- Social media marketing
- Webinars
- Email marketing
- Newsletters
- Pay-per-click ads
- Networking
Is Corporate training the right job for you?
Hopefully, by now the roles and duties of a corporate trainer are clear to you. But how should you know if this job is even right for you? The best of finding out is by trying it out for yourself, Try by learning as much as you can about this profession. Attend webinars and reach out to other trainers regarding their experience. Once you have a bit more clarity, take a demo role or a brief workshop on corporate training to see you even belong in this field.
What to read next? Here are resources to enrich your knowledge in corporate training.