On the Job Employer Training Programs
On-the-job employer training programs are excellent ways for employees to learn new skills. There are several variations of on-the-job training, and the type of job usually determines the kind of training. Employees often learn best when they train with an employee who is already very good a the job. Opportunities for practice are abundant with on-the-job training, and continued practice and reinforcement can hone skills.
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Individual On-The-Job training
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Plenty of time for practice is the greatest benefit of individualized on-the-job training. This type of training involves one trainer and one trainee. The trainer is usually selected for his expertise at performing the task being trained. The student observes the trainer performing the task and then attempts to complete the job with the help of the trainer. Ample time for practice and feedback is available since only one associate is trained at a time. An additional benefit is that the trainee learns at her own pace.
Group Training
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Another form of on-the-job training is group training. A small group of trainees is taught by an experienced associate. The instructor shows the group how to complete a task and then allows each participant an opportunity to complete the same task. The trainer may also divide the group into teams and instructs each team how to complete a particular job. Every individual on the team then completes the task, receiving feedback from both the trainer and other team members.
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Variations
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Options abound for on-the-job training. One method is a formalized program that includes numerous steps and checkpoints. As each task or job is learned, the trainee completes an examination to document mastery of the task. A master trainer usually manages this process. Another variation is to hire an outside contractor to conduct the job training. The contract trainer teaches a class of students and reports progress to a supervisor or manager from the sponsoring company.
Making It Work
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On-the-job training takes effort to make it successful. The employee selected to train must receive training on how to be a successful instructor. Frequently, the chosen instructor is merely very good at performing his job. He also needs to learn training techniques in order to be effective. Ample time for training must be allowed and distractions have to be few. A structured program is also necessary to avoid merely teaching what the trainer feels is important.
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