Tips for Successful Training

For an employer/ journeyperson to succeed as a trainer and for the apprentice to be motivated to learn, a business must provide a learning and growing environment. Here are a few tips:

Identify the Apprentice Skills

Has the apprentice acquired skills that are relevant to your trade? Essential Skills such as writing, reading, numeracy (math), oral etc. are the foundation upon which training in other skills is based and are necessary to achieve success in a career. Ensure that your apprentice has the skills to succeed. If the apprentice requires upgrading, contact the Apprenticeship Branch to determine what courses/type of assistance is available.

Lead by Example

In order to foster a positive and cooperative workplace environment, a journeyperson who uses effective mentoring/coaching skills help make the apprentice become more proficient and self-reliant. These include:

• Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Thus, get started by setting reasonable training goals and performance expectations!
• Respect different points of view, be flexible and manage conflict appropriately.
• Recognize initiative, effort and commitment; offer encouragement.
• Organize instructional resource materials for ready access by your apprentice.
• Provide written constructive performance reviews to the apprentice upon completion of each training period.
• Give step-by-step task instructions and have them repeated by your apprentice prior to doing the work.
• Give direct feedback to your apprentice as soon as possible following an action.
• Encourage apprentices who are unclear about a task to see you immediately for corrective action.
• Build and maintain trust relationships with your apprentices.
• Help the apprentice set realistic and measurable goals — both personal and professional.
• Commit yourself to being available and accessible to your apprentice.
• Ensure all staff receives appropriate instructions on the recommended handling procedures of hazardous materials and workplace safety.

Identify Learning Styles

Each apprentice has a unique combination of abilities and distinct learning styles. A journeyperson needs to recognize and work with various learning styles. Find out about your apprentice’s preferred learning style and tailor your instructions accordingly. Some of the ways people retain information include:

• Seeing diagrams, flow charts, videos and printed materials.
• Participating in discussions and having information explained.
• Reflecting on what has been learned and experienced hands-on.
• Understanding facts and data.
• Logically progressing through a step-by-step process.
• Learning through new concepts and seeing the big picture.

Develop a Training Plan

A basic training plan created by the journeyperson and the apprentice serves as a reference and a reminder to review areas that need to be emphasized. It also allows the journeyperson sufficient time to balance workload and teaching. Download a copy of the Training Plan Worksheet (205 KB) and incorporate it you’re your training strategy.