Best Careers Training Specialist

The rundown:

A longtime chief executive is getting ready to retire. He works with the company's board of directors to come up with a list of internal candidates who could potentially replace him. Each of those candidates is enrolled in an executive development program that aims to groom them for the top spot, providing an opportunity for the executives to gain new skills. As a training specialist, it may be your job to lead that program. In other cases, you may set up a training workshop for new hires, or help supervisors become better managers, training them in communication and interpersonal skills. Training specialists may also work with employees to teach them to use new technologies. You may help direct interactive, Web-based training sessions, multimedia programs, or even apprenticeship training.

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The outlook:

The future looks good for training specialists. Employment is expected to jump by 50,500 jobs, or more than 23 percent, to 267,000 jobs by 2018, the Labor Department reports.

Money:

Training and development specialists' median annual earnings were $52,120 in 2009. The best-paid 10 percent made more than $85,860 a year, while the lowest-paid 10 percent earned about $30,120 annually.

Upward mobility:

Professional certifications are common in this field, and they're a good way for human resources workers to improve their skills. With experience and exceptional performance, you might climb your way to director of human resources or move further up to a top executive position (ever heard of "chief people officer"?). You also may strike out on your own as a consultant or try teaching or writing.

Activity level:

Average. Much of the time you'll be in the office, but some jobs call for extensive travel, and some may require you to spend more time on your feet.

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Stress level:

Pretty low. Although travel can take you away from home, you're likely to work an average 35-to-40-hour week.

Education and preparation:

Requirements vary widely among those who enter the field. You'll most likely need a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field, with classes in training and development. Internships will be helpful in finding your first job.

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Real advice from real people about landing a job as a training specialist:

Credibility, professional certifications, and continuing education counts, as does experience and expertise in your chosen training field. "Best case scenario is that you're going to train people to do something you've not only done yourself, but have been successful at," said sales trainer Martha Kroodsma. "For example, sales trainers should absolutely have been top salespeople themselves, and preferably have sales experience in the exact type of sales they're now training." Social skills and course management experience is also a must for this position. "You really have to have some instructional design skills," says Pat Galagan, executive editor at the American Society for Training and Development. "Things like how to analyze training needs, how to design a course, how to deliver it, and how to evaluate it." Trainers should also practice techniques to engage their students and keep them involved in the learning process. Galagan says tech skills will score you serious points with potential employers. "It's helpful to know e-learning and some other technology skills," she says. "People who have that would have an advantage in getting a training job these days."

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