What do you do if your professional training fails to prepare you for real-world challenges?

If professional training falls short in preparing for real-world challenges, seek additional resources and support. Engage in self-directed learning, seek mentorship from experienced professionals, and participate in workshops or seminars to fill gaps in knowledge. Embrace the opportunity to learn through hands-on experience and adaptability, applying critical thinking skills to problem-solving. Utilize networks and communities to exchange insights and gain practical advice, recognizing that continuous learning is essential for professional growth and resilience in facing unexpected challenges.

Professional trainings will prepare you for real word challenges but it cannot possibly cover everything. You must also take ownership of your own development. After attending the training, look for a mentor, or a subject matter expert whom you can get more information from on how to deal with other scenarios. Invest and be international on how you improve the knowledge and skills acquired. That is achieved through practice, seeking feedback, and self reflection.

After completing professional training, I make it a point to partner with a colleague for knowledge transfer. Teaching the material to someone else enhances my understanding and retention, which is a key aspect of my continuous learning strategy. So find your own way and process of learning as well and integrate strategies that will help you better retain the knowledge and improve them further after the training even if you find the training insufficient.

Building network doesn't come easy for me, but I make sure that this is one of the things I build whenever I attend professional trainings. As a training professional, I also acknowledge that not all may people may have the natural talent in networking so I make sure that this is integrated in our training program. For example leveraging group discussions, break out sessions and group assignment can help facilitate this network building amongst participants. We also would spend a few minutes at the start of a program to explain the value of networking and how they can benefit and contribute to it.

In my opinion, if our professional training fails to prepare us for real-world challenges, building a network is an effective solution. A strong professional network can provide valuable support, advice, and resources that can bridge the gap between our training and the real-world demands of our job. Mentors, peers, and industry experts can bridge the gap between theory and practice, helping us navigate complex situations and gain valuable insights. Networking provides opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and career advancement. So, if our professional training falls short, investing time and effort into building a strong network can significantly enhance our professional growth and success.

In my opinion, if our professional training fails to prepare us adequately for real-world challenges, it is crucial to engage in self-reflection and assessment. By critically examining situations where our training fell short, we can identify the root causes of the discrepancy between what we learned and the demands of our job. This self-reflection allows us to gain a deeper understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, enabling us to focus on areas that need improvement. It is essential to view real-world challenges as learning opportunities rather than insurmountable obstacles. By engaging in this self-reflection process, we can take proactive steps to enhance our skills and overcome future challenges.

Training programs should incorporate the 70:20:10 model in the approach. If it wasn't, implement this as part of your personal development. Here's an example of how you can do it: 1. 10% Formal learning - attend the training and make the most of it. Take down notes and keep asking yourself what can I do with this information to help myself improve or how can I productively apply this information back at work? 2. 20% Social learning - find a buddy that you can learn with. Can be someone who is also part of the same training or a mentor whom you can ask for advice. 3. 70% Experiential learning - take relevant initiatives in your role to apply the learning for example volunteer on a specific project and get feedback on your result.