Training and Development Specialists

Career Description: Conduct training and development programs for employees.

Industry: Business and Financial Operations

Other Job Titles for Training and Development Specialists:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Keep up with developments in area of expertise by reading current journals, books and magazine articles.
• Present information, using a variety of instructional techniques and formats such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos and lectures.
• Schedule classes based on availability of classrooms, equipment, and instructors.
• Organize and develop, or obtain, training procedure manuals and guides and course materials such as handouts and visual materials.
• Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
• Monitor, evaluate and record training activities and program effectiveness.
• Attend meetings and seminars to obtain information for use in training programs, or to inform management of training program status.
• Coordinate recruitment and placement of training program participants.
• Evaluate training materials prepared by instructors, such as outlines, text, and handouts.
• Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen.
• Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors or customer representatives.
• Screen, hire, and assign workers to positions based on qualifications.
• Select and assign instructors to conduct training.
• Devise programs to develop executive potential among employees in lower-level positions.
• Design, plan, organize and direct orientation and training for employees or customers of industrial or commercial establishment.
• Negotiate contracts with clients, including desired training outcomes, fees and expenses.
• Supervise instructors, evaluate instructor performance, and refer instructors to classes for skill development.
• Monitor training costs to ensure budget is not exceeded, and prepare budget reports to justify expenditures.
• Refer trainees to employer relations representatives, to locations offering job placement assistance, or to appropriate social services agencies if warranted.
• Prepare briefs, and assist in searching and seizing records to prepare charges and documentation for court cases.
• Direct service of legal documents, such as subpoenas, warrants, notices of assessment and garnishments.
• Request that the state or federal revenue service prepare a return on a taxpayer's behalf in cases where taxes have not been filed.
• Investigate claims of inability to pay taxes by researching court information for the status of liens, mortgages, or financial statements, or by locating assets through third parties.
• Install systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data or provide advice on such systems, based on examination of current financial records.
• Participate in informal appeals hearings on contested cases from other agents.
• Arrange for maintenance and liquidation of delinquent properties.
• Authorize and sign mail collection letters.
• Open accounts for clients and disburse funds from clients' accounts to creditors.

Emerging Tasks

• Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
• Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
• Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• assess staff or applicant skill levels
• assign work to staff or employees
• conduct training for personnel
• confer with managers, instructors, or customer representatives
• convert information into instructional program
• design classroom presentations
• develop course or training objectives
• develop instructional materials
• develop training programs
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• edit written material
• evaluate information from employment interviews
• evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
• evaluate training materials
• hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
• identify training needs
• interview job applicants
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make presentations
• monitor operational budget
• monitor training costs
• negotiate business contracts
• organize educational material or ideas
• organize training procedure manuals
• orient new employees
• participate in staff training programs
• prepare periodic reports comparing budgeted costs to actual costs
• provide customer service
• refer clients to community services or resources
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule or contract meeting facilities
• schedule training
• train instructors in training techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use teaching techniques
• write employee orientation or training materials
• review loan applications
• select applicants meeting qualifications
• use computers to enter, access and retrieve financial data
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of relevant laws
• use negotiation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• verify information for credit investigations
• write legal correspondence

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$23.86
• Average annual wage (2007) - $49,630.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 18.30%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 38,490
• Employment (2006): 210,342

• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers
• Instructional Coordinators
• Management Analysts
• Recreation Workers
• Training and Development Managers
• Insurance Underwriters
• Loan Interviewers and Clerks
• New Accounts Clerks
• Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents
• Tellers