How to Provide On-the-Job Training

Many times, the best way to learn something is by doing it, and a new job is no exception. Knowing this, many employers participate in programs in which they provide on-the-job training to new and potential new employees. When organized and planned thoroughly, an on-the-job training experience can be a great way to learn a new career.

Things You'll Need

• Job coaches
• Training plan

Instructions

Provide On-the-Job Training

1. Register your organization or business with your local Department of Labor, as many states have On-the-Job Training (OJT) programs for unemployed workers who need to be retrained. An employer reaps both financial and practical benefits by becoming involved with programs like this. If you commit to hiring employees who successfully complete the training program, you can be reimbursed a portion of the employee's wages during the training program--in addition to having an extra employee on your staff.

2. Create an on-the-job training plan that includes a detailed description of the job for which a candidate is training. The plan should outline what skills will be taught, the number of hours it will take, a time frame for completion of the program and an indication of your evaluation method.

3. Choose job coaches and train them. Each employee in the OTJ program must have her own job coach who is thoroughly trained in the skills of the job and in how to present and demonstrate those skills to the job candidate.

4. Prepare materials ahead of time. Make sure that your job coaches have examples of the types of work they are trying to teach. Any new passwords or keys the employee will need should already be set and made.

5. Assess how much the learner knows. This doesn't need to be formal testing--it can be as straightforward as asking whether or not your new employee has experience with a particular job procedure, program or piece of equipment. Under the guidance of his job coach, allow the employee to demonstrate his proficiency of the skill.

6. Take your cues from your OTJ candidate. One candidate may only need to shadow a job coach and take notes for only a couple of days before she feels confident enough to try it himself, while another may need to shadow someone for a couple of weeks before he's comfortable.

Tips & Warnings

• Pick a reasonable length of time to teach new skills, keeping in mind that the learning process can slow down tasks. For example, if payroll absolutely needs to be finished by Thursday afternoon, it's probably better to have a candidate shadow the process the first time instead of letting him try it himself.