Professional Course Goers
Discussion
Someone described me as this the other day (jokingly, but has a point).
I work in an area that is constantly changing (legally etc) and on top of that - quite simply - I like to have as much knowledge that will a) make me good at my job and b) expand my skills as much as possible.
So whenever a DECENT training opportunity comes up I will take it - the advantage being (obviously) I am quite up to date everything and have knowledge that others on my team don't.
Conversley we have a lot of old timers who just stick to what they know unless forced.
How do you view training courses?
Waste of time?
A doss?
Go on as many as possible?
I work in an area that is constantly changing (legally etc) and on top of that - quite simply - I like to have as much knowledge that will a) make me good at my job and b) expand my skills as much as possible.
So whenever a DECENT training opportunity comes up I will take it - the advantage being (obviously) I am quite up to date everything and have knowledge that others on my team don't.
Conversley we have a lot of old timers who just stick to what they know unless forced.
How do you view training courses?
Waste of time?
A doss?
Go on as many as possible?
From my experience of the public sector IT world (local/regional government), those that get to go on the most courses, do the least work, particularly if its' for a task for which they'd been on a course for.
My experience of private sector IT is that training courses are mentioned at job interview, training weeks mentioned too. 'Investors in People' certificate on wall, etc. Never normally materialised though.
When they have, the employer seems to have considered it a 'perk', and therefore not been willing to pay transport/accommodation/etc.
My experience of private sector IT is that training courses are mentioned at job interview, training weeks mentioned too. 'Investors in People' certificate on wall, etc. Never normally materialised though.
When they have, the employer seems to have considered it a 'perk', and therefore not been willing to pay transport/accommodation/etc.
snowmuncher said:
From my experience of the public sector IT world (local/regional government), those that get to go on the most courses, do the least work, particularly if its' for a task for which they'd been on a course for.
My experience of private sector IT is that training courses are mentioned at job interview, training weeks mentioned too. 'Investors in People' certificate on wall, etc. Never normally materialised though.
When they have, the employer seems to have considered it a 'perk', and therefore not been willing to pay transport/accommodation/etc.
My current employer put me through 12 weeks of training on our product when I joined the company. It was, genuinely, the most intellectually taxing time of my life since going through finals 15 years ago. The final assessment has a first-time failure rate somewhere in excess of 90%.My experience of private sector IT is that training courses are mentioned at job interview, training weeks mentioned too. 'Investors in People' certificate on wall, etc. Never normally materialised though.
When they have, the employer seems to have considered it a 'perk', and therefore not been willing to pay transport/accommodation/etc.
Apart from that, and without exception, every other training course I've been on (including some well respected certifications) has been a complete waste of time with a difficulty and chance of failure rated at somewhere around tying my shoelaces in the morning. IT training, in my experience, is an enormous gravy train aimed at making mediocre, low-achievers feeling good about themselves.
Knowledge acquisition should be a full-time activity, it's what supports the last remaining vestiges of British competitiveness amongst new world players; the 'knowledge economy' is all that we have left. Therefore if we as individuals give up learning, no matter in how small chunks, we will eventually lose our own individual competitiveness too. Plus, it's good fun to learn new stuff! As an employer, if there is no evidence of continuing knowledge acquisition, I think less of the candidate; if they make it too interview, I'm always proven correct.
People who turn up to training with the pre set attitude that it will be a waste of time are symptomatic of the arrogant low calibre intellectual luddites that have done so much to wreck British Industry
The day you stop learning is the day you die and - as a professional trainer I meet a few (luckily only a few) people who on this measure have been dead for years. If you think you have no more to learn you are placing fierce pride in meagre achievemnet unless you are right at the top of the slippery pole and called Rose, Sugar, Leahy, Paphitis, Cameron or Branson. Until you get there accept there are new things that could be useful and embrace the new as an adventure not a threat!
The day you stop learning is the day you die and - as a professional trainer I meet a few (luckily only a few) people who on this measure have been dead for years. If you think you have no more to learn you are placing fierce pride in meagre achievemnet unless you are right at the top of the slippery pole and called Rose, Sugar, Leahy, Paphitis, Cameron or Branson. Until you get there accept there are new things that could be useful and embrace the new as an adventure not a threat!
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