6 Tips on How to Develop Training Skills to Strengthen Your Career

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Tips on How to Develop Training Skills to Strengthen Your Career

Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Ali Hamza

Seventy-five percent of people feel stuck professionally, according to a study by Quizzino. Of that number, nearly 50% either don’t believe they have growth opportunities or feel too overwhelmed to move.

If that sounds like you, developing training skills can help break the stagnation. Here are some key actions you can take to propel your progression.

Find a mentor

A mentor can help you rise faster by providing insights and guidance. They can also help steady your focus and offer encouragement. A study by FP Training found that through mentorship, 87% of mentees felt empowered and more confident. 

Before you kick off your search, think about what you want in a mentor. Consider factors such as industry experience, leadership skills, communication style, and availability. For instance, if you’re building a career in sales, sales training from an industry veteran could be more valuable than from someone with marketing experience.

Set crystal clear goals

Well-written goals allow you to chart a path toward the future you desire. Also, a concrete target to focus your efforts on helps keep you on track with your development. Powerful goals are straight to the point and measurable, with a clear timetable that sets a start and end date.

According to Dream Maker, 90% of people do better when their goals are relevant and challenging. Also, ensure your goals are achievable but also ambitious enough to push you.

It also helps to have a breakdown of short-term milestones along the way to prevent feeling overwhelmed. For example, if your goal is to earn an M.B.A., your step-by-step objectives could be:

  • Write your application essay
  • Complete your first assignment
  • Finish one module
  • Turn in your capstone project

Hitting each smaller objective can help keep you motivated, spurring you on to the next one until you achieve your goals.

Look for feedback

Getting feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Once you have an objective view of where you stand, you can leverage your strengths and work on your gaps.

Seek feedback from people you relate to on different levels to get a wider picture. For instance, your superiors at work, colleagues, juniors, family, and friends. Consider using anonymous assessment surveys to encourage participants to express their opinions freely.

Advance your education

Statistics by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that increasing your level of education pays. For example, people with master’s degrees earn at least $600 per week more than those with associate degrees. 

So, consider furthering your education through accredited institutions. If you can’t take a break from work, you can enroll for an online degree. Short courses relevant to your job can also help you sharpen your skills.

Find out if your company offers reimbursements or assistance with tuition to cushion the financial blow. You can also opt for massive online open courses (MOOCs) that are typically more cost-effective. 

Take advantage of in-house company training

Your company’s training programs can be invaluable resources for developing and strengthening your skills. The best way to draw as much value as possible from these in-house courses is by immersing yourself and asking questions.

Whenever possible, revisit past courses to refresh your mind. By actively engaging in training, you can give yourself an edge over other applicants when you’re in line for promotions.

Join professional associations

There are several associations at the local and national levels for professionals in every field. For example:

  • The National Association of Sales Professionals
  • Association of Information Technology Professionals
  • Financial Planning Association

Regardless of the profession, these organizations offer a powerful platform to:

  • Get resources that can expand your knowledge.
  • Share ideas with like-minded people.
  • Grow your professional network.
  • Get access to exclusive member-only training.

In addition, membership can help you stand out from other job applicants.

To sum up, look up potential mentors and reach out to a few. Also, set crystal clear goals and short-term objectives to keep you on track. Look for feedback, improve your education, and dive into your company’s training courses to sharpen your skills. Finally, find associations in your field to soak up knowledge and swap insights with other professionals. With these tips, you can supercharge your career.