How to Find On-The-Job-Training

Being well-rounded requires the openness to learn. Trying different things may lead a person to what they want. On-the-job training is beneficial because it is free and encourages professional growth. The best training is in emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and other soft skills.

By Ciarra Maraj

The human brain holds up to 2.5 million gigabytes in memory — no iPhone (the highest memory option being 512GB) can come close. How much we remember is a different story.?

Learning keeps the mind sharp, and work is a great place to continue learning because it is free, and employees are compensated whether training happens on the clock or after.?

Some organizations have sophisticated training programs that include a coach and team building. Others use online learning management systems (LMS). Learning management systems are those online modules with quizzes at the end.

With commitment, both mediums are effective.

What is On-The-Job Training??

The first two weeks of a new job start an adjustment period: the company gives operations training and provides other learning materials required to work. Some companies end the training there. Others are just beginning.

In companies where training continues, the employee and employer will collaborate to create a program to provide training to help the worker grow. This can be online, in-person training or both.?

Jaime Diglio, a performance coach, holds various training sessions for companies. One is a once-a-week session check-in to help understand the person.

“This program that I run is working with people to sort of get clear on what they want next so that they can then go find…the resources in the company, the existing company that can offer that,” Diglio said.?

Other methods include mentorship or the buddy system, which Mazdak Chinichian, a leadership coach, finds neat.?

“You have one person assigned to you as the work buddy, and you're supposed to do some of the work together,” Chinichian said. “So that person's a little bit more experienced than you. So by working together you learn some stuff from your work buddy.”

What if a job offers none of these? Cross-training is another option. Learning the functions of different departments makes work interesting.?

“I think a lot of companies are afraid that if they start to give employees the choice [and] more empowerment to try out different parts of the company that it's [going to] make them too unstable,” Diglio said. “But actually what it will do is build a stronger foundation because you then have people who are cross-trained across multiple skills.”

Being multifaceted makes a competitive candidate.?

Benefits of On-The-Job Training?

Take advantage of on-the-job training to continue building knowledge. Industries change. It is important to keep up.?

New ideas breed unique thinking required to overcome challenges of a field, Chinichian said.?

“There's a lot of forces in the society, in the business, that would need a different way of thinking, a different mindset, but also [a] different set of skills and knowledge,” Chinichian said.

Trying different things leads people to their passion, so be curious, Diglio said.?

“Every time you learn something new…you might open up the door to something that you really [want to] be doing,” Diglio said.

An employee can find training programs within their human resources department. The learning and development department is in control of learning journeys.?

If a learning and development department does not exist, ask around and search for programs on the internet. Most training and certifications are free. Invest time to complete them.???

LinkedIn Learning and Coursera are places to begin. Training is self-paced and takes hours to master.

The most important part is figuring out what to improve on. Reflect on questions about motivation, strengths and areas to refine.??

Chinichian suggests training in soft skills surrounding leadership and emotional intelligence.?

Diglio suggests training on conflict resolution and building connections.?

Do not be afraid to take interesting courses, Diglio said.?

“I find a lot of people play it safe and they want to just get the set certification versus looking at what they're really interested in,” Diglio said. “And so…focus on the thing that you're really interested in [because] there's a reason why.”

Do not twiddle your thumbs while waiting for the employer. Grab control of your improvement, Chinichian said.?

“Take ownership of your own personal and professional growth and development,” Chinichian said. “Create a compelling vision for yourself… [ask] ‘Who am I becoming?’ and then find out, ‘OK, what is it I need to do to get there? What book do I need to read? What course do I need to take?’

“Do not wait for the employer. However, engage your employer, let them know about your vision, let them know about your plan.”

Top Takeaways

How To Find On-The-Job Training?

• Free on-the-job training is beneficial.?
• Try new and interesting areas.
• Take control of growth and development.?
• Being able to do different things makes a candidate competitive.?