6 Advantages Of On-The-Job Training
So, with that being said, what actually is on-the-job training? How does it differ from normal training? And what exactly are the benefits to both sides? Don’t worry if you’re not sure, this post will explain everything that you need to know about the advantages of on-the-job training.
We’ll cover:
- What is On-The-Job Training?
- How Does it Differ From Normal Training?
- How Does On-The-Job Training Benefit the Employer?
- How Does On-The-Job Training Benefit Employees?
What is On-The-Job Training?
On-the-job training is different from learning through experience in the workplace. Learning through experience is a simple concept that means employees will learn through making mistakes throughout the course of their employment. Whether it’s trial and error or being left to find your own feet, it’s up to you to find a solution that works best for you.
Whereas, on-the-job training is a specific type of education that is delivered to employees whilst they work. It allows them to gain extra qualifications and develop their skill set, all whilst learning how to carry out their day to day tasks the correct way.
For example, when nurses start in a new job, if they have a particular computer program that the new hospital uses, they’ll need to pick this up whilst still carrying out their job. Good examples of relevant on-the-job training resources that could be used here are educational videos or a mini shadowing session to help the new employee get to grips with it.
The best on-the-job training practices are:
- Relevant
- Targeted
- Timely
- Helpful to employees
- Packed with useful information
Learning with experience could fall into the above categories eventually. However, on-the-job training is a great way to onboard new employees into company procedures, culture and various other important concepts too.
On-the-job training isn’t relevant to all job roles and industries. Some skills can’t be picked up whilst you work or be taught in quick refresher courses, they need extensive off-the-job training too. However, for the ones that it can be done for, it’s a great tool for businesses to utilise.
How Does it Differ From Normal Training?
The biggest difference between on-the-job and normal training is that it’s practical. Whereas, normal training is usually conducted off-the-job and is more theoretical. Practical training gives learners hands-on experience and allows them to put what they’ve learnt straight into practice.
As opposed to learning something theoretically, where you then have to wait before you can put your new skills into practice and some things may have slipped through the net when being explained. Having that immediate hands-on experience gives learners little time to forget what they’ve just taken in and if they do, it can be immediately recognised by the checker.
Regular training usually requires employees to have time away from their role to complete their qualification, or, give up some of their spare time to attend courses. This can have a knock-on effect on a business and cause productivity to slow down for the allotted time period that the employee is out of the office.
With on-the-job training, your business never stops. Yes, things will be a lot slower in the learning period but tasks will still be getting completed. This keeps business productivity levels as high as they can be and results in very little or no downtime. If there’s one thing that business owners try to avoid at all costs, it’s downtime.
On-the-job training is usually carried out by vastly experienced team members. Whereas, regular training is conducted and led by an industry expert. Whilst the experienced member of staff will know how things work inside the business like clockwork, industry experts can give crucial insight into how industries are developing and new trends that may be being introduced.
How Does On-The-Job Training Benefit the Employer?
It’s Easily Applicable
When a new employee joins a business, they should undergo an onboarding process to make starting their new role as smooth as possible. In some businesses, this will involve being sat down with a company manual and various meetings to get them into the spin of things.
However, a lot of businesses have moved away from that approach and have looked to take on a more productive one. Online training videos that the employee can access on their own and whenever they want, lets them get straight on with the job that they’ve been employed to do. This independence will be appreciated by the employee, who is being seen to be trusted right from the off.
Plus, you don’t have to pull various people away from their posts for meetings or tutorials with the new employee. They can get on with the videos at their own learning pace, whilst the wider company around them is working as usual, only chipping in as and when they need to. This increases productivity and efficiency levels throughout the business.
It’s Cost-Efficient
Training is one of the most expensive parts of employee development. Employees love when employers financially fund their development and it’s a great way of ensuring that they’ll stay with the business for years to come. However, it comes at quite a cost if you’re not savvy when selecting courses.
Training rooms, travel, catering and materials are all included in training costs – which can soon add up when you’re paying for an expanding workforce to better themselves. Plus, not to mention the downtime that will come as a result of workers being away from their stations for a day.
On-the-job training means that your workforce is always learning during their course, which might not be the case during regular training – it’s sometimes easy to switch off and coast through a day out of the office. So, businesses can be sure that what they’re paying for is actually being put to good use.
It Saves Time
Time is a precious commodity for businesses. After all, in some industries, time is money – so employers are keen to use it as efficiently as they possibly can. One of the biggest advantages of on-the-job training for employers is that it delivers when and where your employees need it the most.
Rather than having to book regular training in the calendar and organise various factors, having training videos on smartphone apps or websites allow employees to access them whenever they want. This means that they can learn what they need to straight away and not be limited by their knowledge waiting around for a certain date.
This type of learning is ultra-efficient and is an effective way to integrate on-the-job training into your employee’s roles. It ensures that they’re always brushed up on their knowledge and should they need to jog their memory, they have the option to retrain instantly so the business doesn’t feel the effects either.
How Does On-The-Job Training Benefit Employees?
Increased Team Morale
What better way to welcome somebody to a new team than to put them right in amongst things from day one? Well, on the surface, this may seem a little overwhelming but with on-the-job training tools and the support of their peers, new employees will feel secure that they’re getting the right assistance they need.
Plus, new employees can be kept away from the team that they’re going to be working closest with if they’re trained off-the-job. The best way to get to know your fellow team members and how they work is by getting an actual hands-on experience. Naturally, they’ll become more familiar with their colleagues and the culture this way.
Improve Flexibility
On-the-job training is centred around developing new skills as you work. So, employees can go to work and know that no two days are the same in their role, which is an exciting prospect for any workforce. Nobody wants to be stuck in the same job where every day you carry out the same tedious tasks. That can easily lead to job dissatisfaction and a drop in workplace productivity.
Whereas, if you’re picking up new skills regularly, your flexibility and ability to work on a variety of different tasks will increase, so you can mix up your days even further. This keeps employees focused, hungry to learn and eager to work for their organisation as they’re constantly developing their personal skill set.
Increased Innovation
With the opportunity to be learning new skills and qualities regularly, this will spark creativity within the team. Trying new things and making bold movements is what will get businesses noticed within their industry and that’s exactly what further knowledge will allow.
Having a deeper knowledge is a great way to gain a competitive edge over the rest of the industry. Plus, developing the skills of a workforce is a big step for businesses that are aiming to become thought leaders in their given field. Knowing more than the competition and appearing to be more credible than others in the market will attract business. Plus, it’ll attract top-quality employees wanting to work for a reputable organisation.
Some Skills Can’t Be Taught On-The-Job
As you’ve just read, on-the-job training is perfect for some business and job roles. However, there are some things that can’t be taught on the job. Extensive qualifications, like vehicle and health and safety licences, will need to be carried out by a third party examiner. Or, some courses may take a couple of days to complete off-site.
So, with that in mind, what kind of training can’t be done on-the-job? Well, if you’re not sure, we’ve created a free media pack that outlines how Course Finder 365 will work with you to find the perfect training solution for your business. Grab your copy today!