Training and Development Specialists

What the job really is

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-1151
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
• Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
• Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
• Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
• Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.
• Monitor, evaluate, or record training activities or program effectiveness.
• Design, plan, organize, or direct orientation and training programs for employees or customers.
• Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen.
• Evaluate training materials prepared by instructors, such as outlines, text, or handouts.
• Monitor training costs and prepare budget reports to justify expenditures.
• Devise programs to develop executive potential among employees in lower-level positions.
• Keep up with developments in area of expertise by reading current journals, books, or magazine articles.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Cisco Webex, Django, Epic Systems, Hypertext markup language HTML, IBM SPSS Statistics, JavaScript

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Training and Development Managers
• Instructional Coordinators
• Management Analysts
• Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
• Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
• Human Resources Specialists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Training and Development Specialists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.