Test & Measurement

Tip of the Week: How to Maximize the Benefits of Training

July 5, 2016

Well-rested, engaged employees will get the most out of training sessions.

When your employer sends you to training, exactly how well-trained are you when you get back? The answer depends more on you than it does on your instructor. Here are some tips to help you make the most of it:

• Go to bed early. If you’re out of town for training, don’t look at that as a free pass to go bar-hopping into the wee hours. Show up at class well-rested and attentive.

• Be fully there. Don’t be thinking about what you’ll do when it’s quitting time or when you get back home. If you do find your mind wandering, consider asking if the class can take a short break.

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• To help focus, ask questions. Interaction helps keep people focused. But ask questions that are directly relevant to the material. For example, “You said emissivity is an issue with switchgear. Can you please expand on that a bit?” Important: Do not derail the lecture, demonstration, or other activity with questions or comments that are not directly relevant.

• Do all assigned homework, and ask for more. Homework reinforces what you learned in class. Remember why you’re there. It never hurts to ask for extra reading or extra work problems.

• Map the material. Mentally map the material to your everyday work. How would you use this in your job? What problems would you face? Outside the classroom or during a question period, voice your concerns to the instructor and ask if some discussion on those concerns might be helpful to the class.

• Write daily summaries. If you keep an ongoing log of what you learn, and each day summarize the major lessons and how they may affect your work, you will retain much more. And you’ll have the basic content for a report to submit to your boss.

• Submit a report to your boss. Just knowing you will do this will motivate you to pay attention and get the most from training. So decide from the outset that you’ll do this and use the daily summaries as the basis.

• Get relevant assignments. Allow your boss a reasonable time to read the report you submitted, then schedule a half hour for the two of you to discuss the report and determine which job assignments will both reinforce your training and give the company the benefit of your training.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.