Why Personalized Training is a Better Value
Big Box Training vs. Hiring a Trainer
Over the last 15 years of teaching people about computers and software, I have been told by professional computer users that traditional software courses taught by corporations (including on-line training) doesn't serve their needs very well. It is often expensive, and the courseware is necessarily generic to try and meet everyone's needs, while meeting no one's completely.
My own experience with these big-box classes is mixed, but on the whole I find that adding material to the day based on the students' needs is essential for a meaningful learning experience. This is easier to do when the entire class is from the same company and do the same sort of work, which is not always the case.
Personalized training is what I do, and gives a terrific return on your investment, since you don't waste your time learning things you already know, or learn things that really don't apply to the work you need to do.
- Experience customized training starting from where you are now in your learning journey
- Learn what you need to learn to accomplish your own projects, using your own documents on your computer
- Be able to have after-training support with the person who trained you (a big no-no in the corporate training centres, where the trainers are expressly forbidden to have contact outside of the corporate contract)
- Learn from an experienced trainer who will customize your training for you and/or your company, based on your real needs, not just what the books think you need.
What about certification?
Many materials are designed specifically for those users seeking software certification, and not for the practical uses that real people need. Recently I complained to a software materials company that an instruction was out-of-date as there was a new technique in the newest version of the software, replacing the old technique, and was told that the only reason it was in the materials was to fulfill the certification requirements.
Most people aren't interested in certification, but if you are, I can help you with that, too. (I have a Microsoft Office User Master Certification in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.)
Real Life Experience = More Pertinent Training
Important information, concept and techniques are only as valuable as the application. Often instructors do not have much "real-life" experience using the software they train. I am, and have been for over 10 years, a freelance contractor, and I use my software skills in the "real world" daily. Before I started professionally training software in 2000, I had 17 years of experience working as an administrative assistant, desktop publisher, and computer professional; I've been in the trenches and know what it means to need to get a project done NOW.
Because I continue to work as a computer professional, you can benefit from my continuous learning and experience.
Next Step? Contact me.
I would love to share some of what I know with you, to help you with your projects and help you become more efficient.
Give me a call (204.774.5757) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.