Corporate training specialists must have excellent interpersonal and teaching abilities in order to properly train new employees within a large company. No specific education is required for this role, but an undergraduate degree is highly recommended, as is work experience gained through an internship. Voluntary certification is a good way look more attractive to prospective employers.
Essential Information
When a company hires an employee, they need to make sure that that person is capable of doing what is expected of them. To teach employees how to maximize their role in the company, a corporation may hire a training specialist. Potential training specialists need a college degree, and many of these professionals also have work experience. Voluntary certification can lead to better job opportunities.
| Required Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Other Requirements | Work experience may be necessary; voluntary certification is available |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 9% (all training and development specialists) |
| Average Salary (2020)* | $67,440 (all training and development specialists) |
Source:*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Corporate Training Specialist Job Description
Corporate training specialists may find work with a major company or corporation. They help motivate, guide and train employees to maximize their efficiency, their abilities and their happiness. Some training specialists are hired full-time by a company as part of their human resources team while others work as consultation specialists for a specific amount of time.
The actual training that takes place is entirely dependent upon the needs of the company, but may involve careful instruction and repetition to ensure that an employee understands exactly what the company expects of them. This training may involve precise demonstration of actions to be followed, or it may focus on informing an employee of the goals and protocol of the specific company. A specialist may be hired to give the actual training, to create training manuals or programs or to evaluate the results.
As regulations and expectations continue to increase for major corporations, the need for training specialists will grow much faster than the average for all occupations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the demand for all training and development specialists will increase faster than average at 9% between 2019 and 2029 (www.bls.gov). The BLS stated that the mean annual wage of training and development specialists was $67,440 as of May 2020.
Requirements to Become a Corporate Training Specialist
Corporate training specialists are hired by such a wide range of companies to perform a variety of duties that there are no specific requirements applicable to all specialists. A college degree is highly recommended, and it is important that specialists receive a balanced and diverse education. Although some schools offer degrees in human resources, most students earn a degree in a field, such as psychology or business, relevant to the position desired. Corporate training specialists may find classes in behavioral sciences, social sciences and business administration beneficial in helping them meet the demands of the job.
In addition to a college degree, most specialists are required to complete a relevant internship and acquired entry-level job experience before being hired as a specialist. The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) is the central organization responsible for teaching and regulating the proper way to train employees. They offer credentialing that ensures a specialist's competency called the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP). To earn this certification a candidate must pass an extensive written test that demonstrates their knowledge of training methods and human resources protocol.
In summary, corporate training specialists often work within a single large company, but may also be hired out as consultants. The career involves guiding, motivating, and teaching employees, and may be either theoretical or practical. Job growth in this field should be much higher than the average of all jobs for the coming decade.
