IT Training – How To Do It Right
Posted April 19th, 2013
Technology evolves so rapidly that the best IT hires are not necessarily those who are rock stars in a particular discipline. Since it’s likely that their specialty could soon be as cold as it currently is hot, smart hiring managers often look instead for candidates who have the ability to learn, and the drive to get things done. That does, however, mean that some on-the-job training will be required. Does your organization know what it takes to train engineers; programmers or developers to be successful team members?
What vs. How
Before starting any training program, two questions need to be answered. What should the employee be trained on, and how are they going to be trained? The short answer to the first question is to make a list of the gaps between the job description and the new hire’s knowledge. The next step is to prioritize – choosing which skills are the most critical and will lead to the quickest contributions.
Four Factors
Once you know what you need to teach, it’s time to consider how to do it. Personal learning styles come into play; some trainees do better with books, while others learn best from listening or performing hands-on trials. Other deciding factors include budget, the amount of time available for training, and availability of various teaching materials.
Multiple Methods
Books are a great place to start. Not only can trainees learn from them, but they can keep them on hand for future reference. Classes are widely available, although only the largest organizations will have the resources to teach them in house – smaller companies will have to outsource. For those pressed for time or lacking resources, online tutorials are a great solution, and they tend to be cheaper than formal classes. Finally, once the trainee is ready to start tackling tasks, reading the code, participating in code reviews, and being paired with a more experienced colleague are all good options. The easiest way to get someone started is to give them a small, structured task, such as fixing a bug or adding a feature.
Also, don’t forget the “soft stuff”. Topics such as conflict resolution, team building, effective project management and creative problem solving can enhance productivity and improve relationships between coworkers. These concepts are sometimes harder to teach than straightforward technical skills, but provide invaluable workplace benefits.
If you don’t have time to train, the IT recruiting experts at Bayside Solutions can help. We ask the tough questions that gauge the level and capabilities of our candidates, as well as their familiarity with the latest network protocols, security issues, and emerging applications. They come ready to work – so that you don’t have to. For more information on our technical staffing services in the Bay Area, contact us today.
