One of the things trainers expect during the course of delivering a seminar is to be approached by an attendee who asks, "How do I become a trainer?" In most cases the look in their eye and their actions during the class cause us to discount them as someone who simply wants to make "big money doing a glamorous job".

What most people don’t know is that there is a lot more involved in becoming a trainer than meets the eye. And once you are one, it takes a lot of work to become a good one, and even more work to stay on top.

Getting your foot in the door

In order to be considered for a training position you’ll need to have one of two things: A degree or experience. You’ll usually need a minimum of two years retail experience or a four year degree before being considered for a training position. Both take an investment of time. The issue here is credibility so if you take the experience route, you’d also better be a top performer. If you’re not, you’ll never be able to overcome the attitudes of people who think that "Those who can do and those who can’t teach."

Get experience at your dealership

You get experience by volunteering to run training meetings and individual coaching sessions for new employees on your days off. You can also become a manager and take on training responsibilities, or you could join organizations like Toastmasters to gain public speaking experience. Doing both is your best bet.

Practice; get coaching and video tape yourself

This is something you absolutely must get used to. Professional trainers invest time in practice and analysis of their performance. A one day course usually requires 60 or more hours of preparation plus an evaluation by the developer prior to delivery. And then you will be scrutinized as to your performance if the training company is serious about the results.

Additional random thoughts:

If you’re not thick skinned, don’t become a trainer.

Many trainers are contracted. You’ll need to be good at managing your money because you could sit at home for weeks or months with no work.

Travel is required. Training careers are not always conducive to family life. You fly out on Sunday and often arrive home late on Friday. And don’t forget the drawbacks to life on the road.

Be willing to work all day and night. After the class, you eat and often go back to your room to prepare for the next day. I’ve personally been in over 35 states and haven’t seen much of any of them. This is work, not a vacation!

I owe my success in business to my training experience and background. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I just wanted you to know what it really takes to get there, and I wish you the best of success!

To become a good trainer, you need to see the best. Contact us about bringing Ted Ings to your dealership!