Employee training is a critical part of business success, especially in a rapidly evolving world where new skills and knowledge are required to stay competitive. Investing in employee development leads to better job performance, increased job satisfaction, and a more adaptable workforce. One popular and efficient way to handle employee training is through pre-built, off-the-shelf training courses.
These are ready-made training programs designed to meet the needs of various industries and business functions. However, not all pre-built courses are created equal, and selecting the right ones for your team can be a daunting task.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of choosing the right pre-built training courses for your employees. We’ll cover key factors to consider, how to align the courses with your company’s goals, and how to assess the needs of your workforce.
By the end, you'll have a clear strategy for implementing effective training that adds value to your organization.
Why Choose Pre-Built Training Courses?
Before diving into the selection process, it's essential to understand why pre-built training courses are a popular choice for many organizations. Unlike custom-developed training programs, pre-built courses offer several advantages:
Cost Efficiency: Custom training programs can be expensive to develop, particularly if they require a lot of technical or specialized content. Pre-built courses, on the other hand, are more affordable and often available as part of subscription packages.
Time-Saving: Developing a custom course can take weeks or months. Pre-built courses are ready to go, allowing businesses to implement training initiatives quickly.
Expertise: Pre-built courses are typically created by industry experts who have already done the research and gathered the necessary materials. This ensures that the training is accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date.
Scalability: These courses can be deployed across multiple locations or teams without needing additional customization. They can be tailored slightly if needed, but overall, they are designed to be applicable to a wide audience.
With these benefits in mind, it’s clear that pre-built training courses can be a valuable asset to companies looking to develop their employees. However, choosing the right course is key to maximizing these benefits.
Steps for Choosing the Right Pre-Built Training Course
1. Identify Employee Learning Needs
The first and most important step in choosing a pre-built training course is to assess the learning needs of your employees. Consider the skills gaps that exist in your workforce and identify areas where additional knowledge could improve performance. This requires a thorough understanding of:
Job roles and responsibilities: What skills are necessary for employees to excel in their current roles? What new skills will be required as they move into future roles or as the industry changes?
Performance gaps: Where are employees currently struggling? Do you notice common errors, inefficiencies, or bottlenecks that could be resolved through better training?
Career development: Beyond immediate needs, what are the long-term career goals of your employees? Offering courses that align with their personal growth can boost retention and morale.
Methods for identifying learning needs include employee surveys, performance reviews, and input from department heads or team leaders. By understanding these needs, you’ll be able to choose courses that address specific gaps and goals rather than general skills.
2. Align Courses with Business Goals
Training should not just serve the needs of the employees; it must also align with the strategic objectives of the company. When choosing pre-built training courses, make sure they fit into the larger context of your business’s goals. Here’s how:
Short-term objectives: If your company is launching a new product or entering a new market, you may need training on sales techniques, customer service skills, or product knowledge.
Long-term goals: If your company is focusing on innovation, digital transformation, or sustainability, select courses that teach relevant skills such as coding, data analysis, or green business practices.
Compliance requirements: In highly regulated industries, compliance training may be mandatory. Look for courses that cover legal requirements and industry standards, such as data protection, workplace safety, or anti-harassment policies.
Aligning training with your company’s goals ensures that the time and resources invested in employee development translate directly into business outcomes. It also helps employees see the relevance of the training and stay motivated to learn.
3. Evaluate the Quality of the Course Content
Not all pre-built courses are of equal quality. When choosing a course, it’s essential to review the content carefully to ensure it meets your standards. Consider the following aspects:
Relevance: Is the content up-to-date and aligned with current industry practices? Does it cover the topics in sufficient depth to be useful, or is it too superficial?
Engagement: Look for courses that are interactive and engaging. Courses with a mix of video, quizzes, and real-life case studies tend to hold learners’ attention better than those with just text and slides.
Accreditation: Is the course provided by a reputable organization or educational institution? Are the instructors recognized experts in their field? Accredited courses often carry more weight with employees and can boost the perceived value of the training.
Accessibility: Ensure that the course can be accessed easily by all employees, including those with disabilities. Courses that are mobile-friendly or available in multiple languages may also be more inclusive and effective.
Don’t hesitate to ask for a demo or preview of the course before purchasing it. This will give you an opportunity to see if it’s the right fit for your team.
4. Consider the Learning Format
Pre-built training courses come in various formats, and choosing the right one depends on the needs of your employees and the logistical constraints of your organization. Common formats include:
E-learning (online courses): These are flexible and can be accessed from anywhere, making them ideal for remote workers or global teams. Many e-learning platforms also allow learners to go at their own pace, which is great for self-directed learning.
Instructor-led training (ILT): These courses are taught by an instructor, either in person or virtually. Instructor-led training can be more interactive and personalized, but it’s less flexible and may require scheduling that fits into everyone’s calendar.
Blended learning: This approach combines e-learning with instructor-led sessions, offering a mix of flexibility and interaction. Blended learning often results in better retention of information because it caters to different learning styles.
Microlearning: These are short, focused bursts of content designed to be consumed quickly. Microlearning is perfect for on-the-job training or for employees who need to learn something fast without sitting through a long course.
Think about your employees’ preferences, the time they have available for training, and how they learn best when deciding on the format.
5. Assess the Platform and Technical Requirements
Another important consideration when choosing pre-built training courses is the platform through which the training will be delivered. Here are some factors to keep in mind:
User experience: Is the platform user-friendly and intuitive? Can employees easily navigate the course materials, track their progress, and access help if needed?
Integration with existing systems: Will the training platform integrate with your company’s learning management system (LMS) or other HR tools? Seamless integration can make it easier to track employee progress and completion rates.
Mobile compatibility: With an increasingly mobile workforce, it’s important to ensure that training can be accessed on smartphones and tablets.
Technical support: Ensure that the training provider offers robust technical support in case employees encounter any issues during the course. The last thing you want is for the training to be interrupted by technical glitches.
6. Consider the Cost and ROI
While cost is always a factor in business decisions, it's essential to consider the value of the training rather than just the price tag. Cheaper courses may not provide the same depth of learning as higher-priced ones. When evaluating cost, consider:
Subscription models: Many pre-built course providers offer subscription plans that give you access to a library of courses. This can be more cost-effective if you plan to train multiple employees or need a variety of courses.
Volume discounts: Some providers offer discounts for bulk purchases or for training large teams. Explore these options to maximize your budget.
Return on investment (ROI): How will the training improve employee performance or business outcomes? Consider the potential for increased productivity, better customer service, or reduced turnover when calculating the ROI.
The right pre-built training course should provide a clear return on investment by improving employee performance and contributing to your company’s goals.
Summary
Choosing the right pre-built training courses for your employees requires thoughtful consideration of their learning needs, your company’s goals, the quality of the content, and the technical and financial factors involved. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can make an informed decision that supports both employee development and business success.
Remember, the most effective training is not just about filling skills gaps but also about empowering employees to grow and succeed within your organization. With the right training in place, your employees will be better equipped to face new challenges, adapt to changes, and contribute to the overall growth of your company.
About LMS Portals
At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a mobile-responsive, SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.
The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant rapid course development software that provides a drag and drop engine to enable most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily.
We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.
If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program. The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.
Together, these features make LMS Portals the ideal SaaS-based eLearning platform for our clients and our Reseller partners.
Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages
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