Did you know that training and development roles are projected to grow faster than most other professions? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for training specialists is expected to grow by 12% over the next decade. This expansion marks an exciting opportunity for young professionals interested in a career in the training industry.

If you’re considering joining this exciting field, you’re in the right place. Continue reading for a few practical tips to help you break into the training industry, build a successful career, and overcome common challenges. Even seasoned training professionals may find practical tips to share with colleagues — or to try themselves!

1. Building the Right Skills and Qualifications

Educational background:

There’s no single path into the training industry, we often joke that many of us just “end up” in training. However, to be intentional, there certain degrees and certifications can provide you with a strong foundation to propel your training career journey:

• Degrees: Fields like instructional design, education, adult learning, communication or business are especially relevant, as they provide essential information and frameworks for a training career. While many of these disciplines are offered as full four-year programs, certificate programs can also be a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to build your qualifications. However, keep in mind that most training roles require at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Certifications: There are many highly regarded training certifications available that offer practical skills and competencies that can set you apart. Additionally, many organizations regularly offer standalone courses, webinars and workshops to help you develop your skills further.

A few tips to consider:

• Start Small: You don’t need to dive straight into a degree or certification immediately. Start with small commitments like webinars or online courses to explore the field. Podcasts and article subscriptions are often great places to lean into as well!
• Leverage Employer Support: Many organizations offer tuition reimbursement or subsidies for approved training activities. Check if your employer offers tuition reimbursement for professional development.

Essential skills:

• Technical Skills: Proficiency with presentation tools, e-learning platforms, and data analytics is crucial. In today’s digital-first landscape, nearly every aspect of training —whether it’s managing registrations or delivering content — requires technical proficiency. Developing comfortability and fluency with these tools ensures training programs can run most efficiently. In addition, having an aptitude with the subject matter you’re training supports may also be helpful — but as a training professional, always remember to involve other subject matter experts (SMEs) too.
• Interpersonal Skills: Creativity, empathy and strong communication skills are vital. Whether you’re leading an in-person classroom session, hosting a virtual webinar or brainstorming new training strategies with stakeholders, the ability to connect with others and tailor solutions to their needs is what will set you apart as a true training professional. As the saying goes, “Communication is key,” and that couldn’t be truer than here.

A Mindset of Continuous Learning

The training industry is extremely dynamic, which means that staying competitive relies on cultivating a habit of lifelong learning, staying agile and embracing change. Be curious, seek out new opportunities to grow, and remain adaptable to emerging trends and technologies. Investing in your professional development continually not only sharpens your skills but also positions you as a valued resource in the evolving training field.

2. Gaining Practical Experience

Gaining hands-on experience doesn’t always require a formal job title. Remember: Influence is earned. Most businesses, even at a grassroots level, need support with their various training initiatives across the organization. Consider these two opportunities to build your practical expertise:

• Contribute at Your Current Workplace: At your current job, offer to assist with onboarding, new hire training, and/or to create guides and job aids.
• Volunteer with Local Organizations or Clubs: Within other organization, offer to train new members and/or assist with the planning and organization of events.

Training experience isn’t limited to roles only with “training,” “learning” or “development” in the title. Training is truly a universal element that touches every function within an organization — luckily for you, it’s often informal and embedded in everyday activities. Recognizing and seizing these areas of opportunity is key to gaining valuable, real-world experience.

3. Building Your Portfolio

As your experience grows, documenting your accomplishments will be essential for showcasing your skills and tracking your growth. A well-crafted portfolio you can pull from later is invaluable and can help make a strong impression on future employers or clients.

Here’s how to build one effectively:

Keep a record of your work:

• Save examples of training materials you’ve created or events you’ve scheduled, such as presentations, guides, agendas, or course outlines in a shared folder.
• Track feedback and results, such as learner evaluations, performance improvements or measurable outcomes from your efforts.
• Maintain a spreadsheet to log your hours in front of a classroom or virtual sessions and summarize the results and key takeaways.

Create a professional online presence:

• Highlight your achievements on LinkedIn with posts or portfolio sections, and actively engage with professional training communities.
• Build a personal website to showcase your materials, certifications and accomplishments in a polished, easy-to-share format.

Even if you’re not ready to go public with an online presence, practice framing your accomplishments as if they were social media posts. Telling the story of your successes in this format can help you refine how to communicate your impact in short, sweet bites —and when you’re ready, share them publicly to allow others to see your expertise and growth.

4. Networking and Mentorship

Expanding your professional network is vital in any industry of course, but especially in the training industry. To build meaningful connections and strong relationships, consider the following:

• Attending Industry Events: provide opportunities to meet like-minded training professionals to exchange ideas and stay updated on the latest trends.
• Leveraging Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn and other social media sites are invaluable for connecting with peers, sharing insights, and maintaining your professional relationships regularly. Consider joining groups or engaging in discussions to establish your presence. That said, do not just stay within training-specific groups, be sure to broaden your social scope beyond the traditional training-only circles.

Finding Mentors

A strong mentor can significantly accelerate your professional growth by offering guidance, sharing expertise and creating new opportunities. You’ll find many people are actually willing and excited to help and be a mentor, but locking in a mentor/mentee relationship is easier said than done.

Here are some tips for effective mentorship:

• Identify Potential Mentors: Look for someone whose skills, accomplishments or career path you admire. This could be a colleague, a leader in your organization or an industry professional whose work inspires you.
• Be Intentional: Approach potential mentors thoughtfully. Express genuine interest in their expertise and articulate what you hope to learn. Be specific about your goals and how their guidance can support your growth.
• Expand Your Circle: Start within your immediate network, such as colleagues or managers. Once you’ve gained confidence and experience working with mentors, gradually extend your reach to sponsors, industry leaders, or professionals in adjacent fields.

Mentorship is a two-way relationship. Show appreciation for their time and insights and be ready to contribute value in return.

5. Overcoming Common Challenges

In the training industry, it’s not uncommon that age (youth) or limited experience can sometimes be perceived as a disadvantage. If this is an issue you’re facing, not to worry, you can combat this by focusing on these two key attributes: building your competence and your reliability.

• Demonstrating Competence: Prove your skills by consistently delivering high-quality results. This involves not only mastering the tools of the trade but also adopting a mindset of continuous improvement as mentioned above. Invest time in strategic planning and clearly outlining expectations with your peers, colleagues and stakeholders. By proactively addressing challenges and offering innovative solutions, you can prove your expertise and value regardless of your length of experience.
• Building Reliability: Trust isn’t built in a single moment — it’s the result of sustained effort over time. While a “one-hit wonder” can impress in the moment, true credibility comes from being consistent and dependable.

6. Advancing Your Career

Career pathways in training:

Zooming out to career roles, the training industry offers a wide range of unique opportunities, each with distinctive responsibilities and opportunities for growth:

• Training Specialist: These roles are often the entry points into the training field and can include positions like instructor, event coordinator, instructional designer or operations administrator. Each of these roles is critical to the success of training programs and offers strong growth as you build expertise. Instructional designers and specialists titles are two of many examples.
• Training Manager: Titles such as supervisor, manager, director or chief learning officer (CLO) may fall into this category. These roles focus on overseeing training programs and ensuring they align with organizational goals. Transitioning to these leadership positions typically comes after gaining experience and demonstrating your ability to manage and scale training initiatives.
• Training Consultant: Positioned between specialists and managers, consultants offer expertise to clients, either as independent contractors or as part of a vendor-affiliated team. Consultants often juggle responsibilities that overlap with both specialists (e.g., delivering training) and managers (e.g., designing strategy).

Preparing for Career Progression

As mentioned in the “Building the Right Skills and Qualifications” section above, advancing within the training industry often requires pursuing additional certifications or advanced degrees and/or gaining experience in adjacent skills (like team leadership, project management, graphic design, etc.). By continuously developing your professional toolkit, you can position yourself for success in higher-level roles.

Conclusion

Breaking into the training industry can be both exciting and challenging, but with the right strategies, you can build a rewarding career. Take the first step today — listen to a podcast, enroll in a course, reach out to a mentor or volunteer to organize a training opportunity close to you.

The training industry is a space where passion meets impact. As you embark on your journey, remember that your growth as a training professional fuels the growth of others. So gear up, get inspired and take the first step toward your future in the training industry.