The training and development that will best suit your needs will be dependent on your career, your current skills and qualifications and what your career objectives are. There are lots of options for training and development and there is something to suit just about everyone.

What’s in it for me?

When looking a further training and development, you need to look closely at what your current skills and qualifications are, your current career situation and the career position that you would like to be in. The clearer your vision of where you want to be professionally, the easier it will be to get there. In addition to this, the more realistic your evaluation of where you stand currently and at what level your skills and knowledge are at – the more useful you will find your training.

To Stay or Not to Stay

If you are considering making a career change then the training and development that you will need may be extensive. If you are looking to enter an entirely new trade or profession you need to do your research with the professional body that covers that trade, to ensure that any training and qualifications that you undertake are indeed what is required by that industry and trade. Making the move into a new career is a big step and should not be a decision taken lightly.

Industry Standards

• Minimum Qualifications – check what the minimum industry recognised qualification is for your field. If you don’t meet this minimum standard then this may be a great place to start.
• Some fields require you to take refresher courses, especially in safety matters.
• Things in some industries change at a rapid pace. Keeping up with new technologies or industry standards should be part of your training and development plan.
• Check your "tickets" or licences, if these need updating or refreshing this is another great place to start for training and development.

On a Personal Level

• What was mentioned in your last annual review? Did you manager mention any areas that you could improve in?
• Does your company offer any training and development in-house? With tight budgets everywhere this may be a great place to start planning your training and development.
• If you think about your performance and interaction with your work mates you may be aware that there are areas that you can improve on.
• The best way to develop yourself is not to wait until gaps in your skills or knowledge become obvious but to address them before they become an issue.

Your training and development is like your health and safety. It may be everyone’s responsibility but it affects you the most so don’t wait for others to take control. The training and development that you undertake will benefit you career and your income in the long run so don’t wait for someone else to make these important decisions for you.