So you decided that you would like to undertake some personal development or to learn some new skills. You flip through newspapers, search on the Internet and do your research and realize that there seems to be many who are offering training programs that may suit your needs. The problem then arises on how to pick the right program for you.
There are trainers and then there are trainers. Not all trainers and training programs are the same and many are not what they purport to be. How do you choose the right one? Here are some tips you may wish to consider.
- Attend previews and workshops.
Workshops and previews are the usual mode to sell and promote training programs. Some are chargeable while others are free. During the previews, find out who will be the actual trainers for the program (and if they will be there for the entire duration or just part of the program). This is your opportunity to find out all that you can about what they are offering and if this is really what you want.
2. Ask questions.
Call, email or ask in person – you must ask questions and clarify anything that you are uncertain of. Get the most information so that you can make an informed decision.
3. Check their credentials.
For each training program, find out which certifying body you will be affiliated to (if any), what are the qualifications and certifications of the trainer(s), and check the credentials of the certifying body itself. Most organisations have websites or a page on FaceBook so it should not be too difficult to get some information.
4. Talk to their graduates
Get their feedback from graduates about the trainer and the training. Graduates may be present during previews and workshops so ask them about their experiences.
5. Do research.
Get more information from the Internet – you can Google for more details. For the program you are interested in, do find out what other training companies offer. You can even carry out an Internet search on if there are any negative comments about the subject or the topic, or about the trainer. Do be mindful that anything you read on the Internet may be biased and therefore, use such information as feedback and you may then want to follow up in (6).
6. Ask more questions.
If you are not totally satisfied with the information available, keep asking questions about the program, the trainer(s), the company, the certification, the venue, in fact about anything that may be bugging you.
7. Compare
Compare program content, duration and prices for the programs offered against those of competitors. Check if there are different payment options to suit your budgetary needs. Buy the best that you can afford, not the cheapest.
8. After training support
Find out what support the training company provides after you have completed the training, if any. It is important to have support available in case you have questions on the training material. At the very minimum, they should provide email support so that you can send in your questions to the trainer.
For more information about programs offered by Billy Kueek International, visit our website, www.BillyKueek.com.