While a main goal for corporate trainers traditionally has been to train employees to reach organizational goals, many trainers may find their roles expanding. With companies cutting back on staffing and consolidating multiple job roles into single positions, career development has taken on a much larger significance. At forward-thinking…

"Training" magazine taps 2012 Training Top 125 winners and Top 10 Hall of Famers to provide their learning and development best practices in each issue. In this article, Jamie Leitch (American Infrastructure) and Mary Beth Alexander (The Economical Insurance Group) share strategies for tuition reimbursement and professional designations.

Technology has promised trainers so much--from the ability to train distant learners to new ways of keeping young employees engaged. But has it delivered? In this article, several trainers consider whether their investment in training technology has been worth it.

Supercharged. High-performers. Leaders of the pack. This article presents "Training" magazine's 2012 Top Young Trainers--those high-potential training professionals who are on the fast track to success. For the fifth year, "Training" magazine is pleased to recognize the outstanding talents, accomplishments, and leadership exhibited by 40 learning…

The best learning and development organizations support business initiatives tactically "and" help drive strategic change. Verizon did just that, earning it the No. 1 spot for the first time on the Training Top 125. Verizon and the other 2012 Top 125 winners continued to invest in training, collectively dedicating a mean of 4.52 percent of their…

Discusses the concept of productivity improvement which must be studied before selecting an approach. Concepts include increasing efficiency without decreasing quality; using employees to redefine the job; and planning for long-term effort. (JOW)

Reports on a survey of "Training" subscribers (n=2926) that found that trainers' salaries had risen sharply in 1996. Presents data about a variety of training positions in terms of location, number of employees, gross sales/assets, industry, sex, educational level, age, and years of experience. (JOW)

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, training managers cannot ignore the valuable resource represented by the motivated, talented, qualified applicant who happens to have a disability. (Author/JOW)

Looks at the practice of using employees from other departments as short-term trainers. Advantages include getting fresh ideas and perspectives, having real-life experiences, providing credibility for the training department, and providing links with other departments. The problems are people who do not want or know how to train, lack of knowledge…

Discusses the problem faced by trainers who are "on stage" for eight hours a day. Offers tips to relieve the stress caused by continuous training, including maintaining personal space, taking a lunch break, keeping physically energized, and avoiding burnout when teaching the same thing over and over. (JOW)

Looks at the growth of the Internet and its potential uses for trainers. Describes listservs and newsgroups that would be beneficial, the World Wide Web, and lists of resources that are helpful. Discusses the culture of the 'Net and training uses. (JOW)

Provides eight ways for trainers to avoid overloading trainees: prepare succinct reference materials, let learners do more, chunk training, design materials with memory aids, create job aids, build automaticity, give learners "training wheels," and detect and correct overload during training. (JOW)

Expresses concerns about "consultants" who, without real professional qualifications, put on a performance instead of conducting training. (SK)

The advantage of trainer certification is that it assures employers that a trainer will perform to an agreed-upon standard. However, instructor certifications address only the most straightforward piece of training. Certifying complex parts of the job would require assessment and observation that would be difficult to administer. (JOW)

Four "virtual trainers" describe the challenges and successes of providing web-based training and give advice on planning coursework, timing instruction, distinguishing between skills training and information sharing, troubleshooting technology difficulties, and adapting to increased workload. (SK)