Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2024 - 33

Your skills may not fit the job
description for a given role,
but you can capitalize on
universal skills.
To learn more continue this page.
How to Maximize Your
Nonlinear Career
When you realize you have a nonlinear
training
career,
success
nonlinear career:
* Understand (or find) your passion.
Do some self-reflection to know what
will make you most satisfied in your
career and figure out how to make
that happen - even if it doesn't
initially make sense on paper.
* Think about the functional experiences
you've had (or will have) that will help
you build your knowledge, skills and
abilities (KSA) in the key area you are
interested in. Be creative when you
analyze how things might correlate. You
may even identify some new strengths
that could directly relate to a role
in training.
* Maximize your exposure to new
opportunities. Raise your hand to join
a cross-functional workgroup or visit
your company's training department.
Ask if you can shadow someone in
training and ask questions about
their journey to their current role. If
you can't shadow someone in person
or virtually, set up an informational
interview instead.
here
and
are
maximize
some
considerations for how to ensure
your
your
* Reflect on trainings you've attended/
completed. Document what you've
observed. For example, what are
the different roles in the classroom,
what design elements worked and
what didn't, what types of activities
were used to help transfer the
knowledge to the learners, and what
assessment methods truly identified if
learning happened.
Realize that your skills may not fit the
job description for a given role, but
you can capitalize on universal skills,
which are transferable. Look for any
opportunities to build relationships
within your organization. In addition,
leverage LinkedIn and other networking
opportunities, including joining (and
actively participating) in industry
professional organizations.
Embracing a nonlinear training career
requires that you take some risks. You
will also need to fail forward. You may
stumble, but that's ok. Learn from those
stumbles and apply what you've learned.
Although you may have a nonlinear path,
you can own your career development.
* Say yes. Create and accept stretch
(growth) assignments to learn more.
* Consider lateral moves. Find ways to
diversify your experiences, related to
organization types, sizes and industries.
Create your own learning plan so you
can decide what your next step looks
like and find a way to get there.
Just remember not to get trapped by
a career plan you created years ago
- because things change! In fact,
the history of the word " career " is
from the 16th century and essentially
means a road. Back then, a career was
expected to be a straight path from A to
B. Promotions and/or a raise aren't the
only indicators of success. It can have
twists and turns. In fact, those twists
and turns can ultimately give you the
best competitive advantage because
they give you diverse experiences to
build off.
Allow your vast knowledge, side gigs,
stretch assignments, random interests
and failures to prepare you for each level
of success in your training career. The
nonlinear training career can provide
you with the challenges and successes
you are seeking.
In her almost 30-year career, Jennifer
Sutherland followed her own nonlinear
training career path spanning various
industries and roles, including 10
years in sales. She is currently the
leader of learning and development
at Trustwave, a global cybersecurity
company. Email Jennifer.
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - SPRING 2024 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
33

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Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2024

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