Let’s start with the simple question one may ask when interested in starting a career in corporate training—what is a corporate trainer?
Basically, a corporate trainer is someone who teaches in a corporate setting. They ensure that employees are educated on relevant topics to the business.
Ideally, corporate trainers have a passion for teaching and a desire to help professionals develop in their careers. This training can be delivered in-person or through different online platforms, or a mix of both. The work environment can also be different as some trainers work for corporations, both large and small. Others work as part of a consulting firm providing services to many companies while some freelance their individual training services. In any case, corporate trainers can make a real difference in the lives of others. Working as a corporate trainer can be a very rewarding profession for the right-fit person!
Studies have shown that companies have better employee retention rates and are most profitable when there is an investment in continuing education for employees. These are reasons that contribute to the robust growth of this career now and for the years to come. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of training and development specialists is projected to grow 9 percent by 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
How can you become a corporate trainer?
Like many professions out there, there’s not one single path to break into corporate training jobs. There are many factors that play a part, such as your current education, skills, and work experience.
Most corporate training positions require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level roles. The more relevant the degree, the better. Corporate training degrees being the absolute ideal. There are other degrees that can work, as well. For example, a degree in education and a minor in business would provide a great foundation for a corporate training position. Another angle could be a degree in Human Resources with a specialization in training and development. There are also certifications available from several professional associations to help you stand out from the crowd.
In a best-case scenario, favorably positioning yourself includes earning a master’s degree in Instructional Design. By having this solid education with a corporate trainer degree, careers in a variety of areas within training and development are readily available to you. Employers will see that you have the education needed to hit the ground running. Titles are many but could include Director of Curriculum, Training Specialist, Instructional Technologist, Learning Systems Manager, Senior Facilitator, Training and Development Director, for example. This is especially helpful for higher-level roles and top-earning capabilities.
Another way to enter this field is through your current industry. Start asking questions within your current organization to identify ways to develop corporate training position opportunities. Networking within the company is very important in order to establish relationships and learn more about what is required for such training roles. Keeping in touch with internal contacts is critical as there may be a future position that they could keep you in mind for when the time comes. Furthermore, if you have any type of teaching background, this is just one more way to make the case for a transferable skillset.
What are the main responsibilities of a corporate trainer?
Corporate trainers have many responsibilities depending on the role in the organization. With the increase in web-based instruction, technology skills have continued to become more significant.
Generally, corporate trainers spend their time training employees on new skills and systems relevant to their industry, company, or position. Additionally, corporate trainers may educate others on new organizational procedures or strategies. Their role may include working with staff management to determine training needs, designing effective educational materials, facilitating workshops or individual training, mentoring employees, evaluating training programs, coordinating training schedules, booking training venues or platforms, managing training budgets, and more.
What are the skills needed for a corporate trainer?
Being a corporate trainer takes a mix of skills to be truly effective. Confidence, public speaking, organization, and listening skills are just several that come to mind.
As mentioned earlier, technical skills are helpful with the increase of web-based instruction. Strong interpersonal skills are a must in dealing with staff and employees on a regular basis. Analytical skills are valuable to add to the list, too. A corporate trainer must have the know-how in developing and designing educational programs that are effective for the particular employee group or individual. Critical thinking and time management skills are other skills that will be necessary to be successful in corporate training jobs.
What can I expect in terms of salary as a corporate trainer?
The salary range for corporate trainer jobs in the US generally fall between $49,000 and $63,000 annually, according to Salary.com. This will change slightly depending on the specific location.
Keep in mind the salary range can widely vary as it depends on a variety of factors. For instance, the type of education or number of years in the profession play a huge part in the pay for a corporate trainer. Someone who has work experience in corporate training will naturally have opportunities to earn better pay. Earning a master’s degree in Instructional Design is another way to boost the pay for corporate training jobs.
If you’re interested in a career as a corporate trainer, earn your master’s degree in instructional design online from JWU. For more information, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].