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Employee training is essential for the development of excellent human resources. Many companies tend to conduct training at the time of new hires, mid-career employees, or personnel transfers. However, there are many different types of employee training programs, and many companies often wonder what type of training should be implemented.
In this issue, we will introduce the types of training by format, rank, job classification, and theme. Please use this as a reference when implementing new employee training or reviewing existing training.
Main types of employee training
From time to time, companies conduct training programs for the purpose of human resource development and skill improvement. Here we introduce the different types of employee training programs by format.
Types of Training
OJT training
OJT is an abbreviation for "on the job training," also known as on-the-job training. It tends to be used as an educational method for new and young employees in the workplace. Since trainees can learn know-how efficiently while performing their work duties, it is easy to expect them to become immediately effective after the training, and many companies have adopted this training method.
The general flow of on-the-job training is that a senior employee or supervisor first shows the trainee a model, and then the trainee is allowed to take on the challenge and is given guidance and follow-up. While this approach tends to improve motivation and satisfaction because it allows participants to learn practical content, it also has the disadvantage of increasing the workload on the instructor's side.
Off-JT Training
Off-JT training refers to educational training that takes place away from the workplace. It is an abbreviation for "Off the Job Training" and is also called off-the-job training.
Off-JT training can be broadly classified into online training and group training. Online training is training that is conducted via a web conferencing system. Training is conducted using PCs, smartphones, tablets, etc.
Online training is also called "e-learning training. Unlike face-to-face training, it is a method that has been attracting attention in the wake of the spread of the new coronavirus because it allows participation regardless of time and location. It is expected to reduce implementation costs, improve learning efficiency, and equalize educational opportunities.
On the other hand, group training refers to off-line training such as seminars in which instructors and participants gather at a single venue. Group training can be divided into classroom training and interactive or experiential training. The interactive and experiential format includes role-playing, workshops, and group work.
In-house and outsourced training
Training that is conducted in-house without outsourcing employee training is called in-house training. On the other hand, employee training that is outsourced is referred to as external training. Specifically, the training curriculum, instructors, facilitators, location, etc. are generally outsourced.
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Types of Hierarchy-Based Training
In some cases, employee training is divided into separate training programs for different levels of employees, such as general employees and managers, because the skills and experience required by each employee's role and job level differ. The following are the types of training by job level.
Training for new employees
Training for new employees is conducted to raise their awareness as members of society and to acquire basic business manners. Typical examples of training topics include business manner training, communication training, and training in office automation skills such as Excel and Word.
For training for new employees, we recommend combining OJT training and Off-JT training. Some examples of training topics that are suitable for a combination of OJT and Off-JT training include business card handling, telephone skills, and business e-mail. The following are some examples of topics that are suitable for combined on-the-job and off-the-job training.
Training for young employees
Training for younger employees is generally provided for employees in their second or third year of employment. The purpose of this training is to provide young employees who are still developing with the basic skills to fulfill their jobs and the applied skills to achieve their goals.
Major training topics include self-management training, career management training, and problem-solving skills training. This is the stage in which participants hone their ability to take initiative, self-management skills, logical thinking, and other skills, and learn ideas and hints for growing into key figures in the organization.
Training for mid-career employees
In most cases, mid-career employees are defined not only by length of service, but also by their ability to assist leaders in the organization and to build smooth relationships with subordinates. For this reason, our training programs for mid-career employees include follower-ship training and mentor training to develop individuals who can serve as a bridge between the front line and management. In addition, some companies offer training in handling complaints with the aim of building good relationships with customers and improving problem-solving skills.
However, many companies do not provide training for mid-career employees, as they play a central role in the organization and are often very busy. In order to nurture the next generation of leaders, human resource departments and managers need to clarify the abilities required of mid-career employees and provide training that enables them to acquire these abilities efficiently.
Training for managers
Managers are those who are responsible for managing the field from a management perspective, such as department managers and deputy managers, and are accountable for the results of their work. Examples of training topics for managers include leadership training, coaching training, management training, team building training, and labor management training.
Leadership training and coaching training provide care and guidance techniques for subordinates, while management training and team building training develop the ability to properly manage human resources. Since the success of managers is directly related to a company's management strategy, it is important to implement training at the right time.
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Types of Training by Occupation
Since the skills required of businesspeople differ by job type, training content should ideally be optimized for each job type. Here we introduce recommended training programs for sales, administrative, and planning positions.
Training for Sales Professionals
Training for salespeople is designed to improve individual and company-wide sales performance and to reform sales methods. Typical themes include improving proposal skills, sales strategy thinking, remote sales skills, and fostering a sales mindset.
Sales training is effective for new and young employees as well as mid-level salespeople and veterans. For less experienced employees, the training should include basic content such as business manners and document preparation, while for those with a proven track record, the training should be designed to update existing sales techniques. Salespeople are often away from the office, so to increase the effectiveness of the training, it is recommended to make it possible for them to learn regardless of time and location, for example, by using e-learning.
Training for administrative staff
Training for clerical staff includes business manner training, sales mindset development training, and business documentation training. Because clerical work is often routine and results are difficult to see, there is often a lack of awareness of the need to change the current situation. Therefore, training is intended to review the skills required of clerical workers, improve work efficiency, and prevent errors.
In addition, in today's business world, there are many cases where clerical workers are responsible for the initial response to customers. In such cases, it is necessary to conduct telephone response training and CS mindset improvement training to develop staff with a customer perspective.
Training for planning staff
Training for planning staff is designed to improve their ability to identify the essence of corporate issues, their analytical skills, and their ability to come up with feasible ideas. Typical training topics include information utilization, improvement of planning skills, and marketing thinking.
In addition, it is not only in planning positions that the ability to think out of the box is required. In some cases, ideas are generated by salespeople who deal directly with customers or new employees with new sensibilities, leading to new businesses. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct training for planning positions for a wide range of employees.
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Types of Thematic Training
To maximize the effectiveness of employee training, it is important to identify the issues facing your company and then select a theme that meets your objectives. Therefore, in the last section, we will introduce the types of training by theme and purpose.
Information Security Training
Information security training is designed to prevent security risks such as information leaks and cyber crimes. Business people are exposed to confidential information in all situations. Therefore, information security training should be provided to all employees, regardless of position or job title.
In addition, information security training is suitable for an off-JT format centered on classroom lectures, and tends to be implemented for the purpose of enhancing literacy when introducing telework. To quickly share the latest information security case studies and risks, it is recommended to introduce e-learning, which allows flexible addition and modification of the curriculum.
Compliance Training
Compliance training is conducted to ensure compliance with laws and regulations necessary for corporate operations and to enhance corporate value. The meaning of compliance has been expanding in recent years, and it is important to strengthen awareness of not only laws and regulations but also morals and ethics. For example, in some cases, the use of social networking services is included in the training theme to help employees understand the risk of their private words and actions causing damage to the company.
Compliance training tends to be input-based learning, making it suitable for off-JT format or e-learning. It is a good idea to pick up compliance case studies that are likely to be problematic in each industry or business sector and use them as teaching materials.
Harassment Training
Harassment training is useful for preventing power harassment, sexual harassment, and other disruptive behavior. Although often viewed as training for supervisors and managers, it is best not to limit the target audience, as harassment can occur in all positions. Another benefit of conducting training for all employees is that it helps to standardize standards for harassment, leading to early detection of problems.
Perceptions of harassment vary from generation to generation and value system to value system. Therefore, it is important to update the content of harassment training from time to time and provide programs that are in line with the times.
Diversity Training
Diversity training is designed to enhance a company's competitiveness through respect for diverse human resources and work styles. In today's business world, where the working population is shrinking and human resources are becoming more mobile, it is essential to understand the importance of diversity. In particular, companies that are promoting the appointment of women to management positions and employing foreign nationals, the elderly, and people with disabilities should proactively implement diversity training.
Diversity training should not be limited to classroom lectures, but should also include opportunities for discussion among participants. This will allow participants to come into contact with a wide range of ideas and values and deepen their understanding of diversity.
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Use Different Types of Training to Solve Your Company's Problems
In this issue, we have described the basic types of employee training. To increase the effectiveness of employee training, it is important to implement the appropriate type of training according to the issues facing the company and its human resource development policy. Instead of conducting the same training program every year in a routine manner, work on building new training programs or modifying the content after clarifying your company's issues, goals, and target audience.
If you are looking for a service that can be used to create manual videos for use during training or to create videos of knowledge, please consider learningBOX. learningBOX is a learning management system with all the functions necessary for training, including creation and distribution of teaching materials, grading, and learner management.
In addition, "learningBOX ON" provides several training contents that are essential for companies. Free information security training and compliance training are also available, and by combining them with in-house content, original training programs can be easily designed.
We also offer a free plan that allows you to use almost all functions for free and indefinitely for up to 10 accounts, so please feel free to contact us.
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