Are you looking for a way to train your employees in a way that is personalized to their specific needs and learning styles while still addressing real-world workplace issues and challenges?
On-the-job training might just be the perfect training process for you to look into.
On-the-job training boosts productivity levels and efficiency, and it can also help companies reduce costs whilst creating an efficient and motivated team. From introducing new employees to the organizational goals and procedures to supporting their professional and personal development, the on-the-job training method prepares employees to face their working environment with all the skills needed.
The best part about it is that it provides a hands-on experience that allows for faster skill development. Not only does that save time and unnecessary training costs, but it provides other benefits as well.
Continue reading to find out the eight benefits that on-the-job training has to offer.
What's in this post?
What is on-the-job training?
On-the-job training (OJT) is a hands-on training method to learn new competencies and skills required for a job in a real, or nearly actual, working environment. On-the-job training is often used to learn how to utilize certain skills, tools, or equipment in a live-work or simulated training environment.
Therefore, rather having delivering seminars or handing out worksheets, employees learn new skills by doing. This training takes place at the organization, under the guidance of a manager, supervisor, or another employee who has knowledge of it already.
When new employees begin on-the-job training, they benefit from getting first-hand knowledge of all the work operations they will encounter. They will get the chance to learn about workplace requirements, equipment usage, and any other necessary skills for them to succeed in their new role.
An on-the-job training program might be anywhere from a few days or several weeks. It depends on the job scope, and the responsibilities required. Oftentimes, new hires will begin by observing other employees and shadowing them and subsequently progress to performing these responsibilities under supervision.
What is off-the-job training?
An off-the-job training program allows employees to learn more about their profession and the recent developments in their industry at a site away from their workplace such as a resort or training facility.
Many employers who hold training off-site intend on having fewer distractions, allowing employees to be completely focused on the content that they are studying.
This type of training enables employees to do their jobs more efficiently as this training method encourages employees to explore their skills and knowledge and explore new ideas to bring back to the workplace.
However, most companies prefer on-the-job training because it is cost-friendly, and enables companies to train their employees based on the specific skill set requirements each employee needs.
Examples of on-the-job training
Below are some of the most commonly used examples of on-the-job training methods:
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Training with co-workers: This is when an experienced employee instructs new employees on how to complete certain tasks. The experienced employee is often someone who has worked with the organization for a long period and is therefore well-versed in all aspects of the work.
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Shadowing: This is when a new employee shadows an experienced employee and watches what they do. In other words: watch, and learn. The new employee is not permitted to perform any duties in the beginning and is only required to learn, take notes, and ask questions when needed.
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Internships: This is when a student or a recent graduate begins to work in their field at a company in order to gain real-time experiences. As a result, interns get the opportunity to develop practical skills throughout their tasks.
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Delegation: This is when management provides tasks to employees and trusts them to perform tasks efficiently without constant supervision and support.
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Self-taught: This is when an employee is given a guide that explains the instructions for a task. The employee is then responsible for completing it on their own.
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Refresh and review: This is when employees are already familiar with a task, but go through the instructions once again to boost their memory and check the efficiency of their task-completion process.
Benefits of on-the-job training
Along with higher productivity levels, and faster skill development, here are the other benefits that on-the-job training offers to you and your employees.
Boost training with real-life experiences
Practical training is one of the greatest benefits that on-the-job training gives to you. It accelerates the learning of corporate tools and procedures, especially when used in conjunction with off-the-job training methods.
Employees are able to learn critical skills faster when they see how those skills are applied in the workplace. Moreover, they are able to remember the material better when they have practical experience. Additionally, on-the-job training helps employees train as they work. For example, if the task of a new hire is to answer calls, they will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge from their training plan to their daily tasks.
It encourages skill development, and problem-solving abilities as they face obstacles in real time. It will help to speed up their learning curve, making them more successful and confident in their positions
Increases productivity
Statistics found that over 40% of managers agreed that on-the-job training leads to increased productivity, and reported a 35% increase in employee morale.
When employees are able to retain more information and receive hands-on experience with cooperate operations, they are naturally able to become more effective when shifting into real-world working conditions.
On-the-job training also increases productivity in highly skilled jobs by fine-tuning and expanding the skills of experienced employees. It also allows for ongoing skill improvement. On-the-job training is targeted and individualized and encourages trained employees to stay up to date with industry innovations, maximize their performance, and reach a higher level of efficiency and production.
As a result, this elevated productivity significantly contributed the enhanced productivity and work quality in their field.
Increases employee retention
One thing that impacts job performance and employee retention rates is when employees are unclear about what is required of them in their roles and duties. On-the-job training helps to alleviate this by providing a clear visual description and demonstration of all the important components of their task and how they can best perform it.
Furthermore, when employees become involved in the learning process, that immediately improves their performance outcome, which also increases their work satisfaction. This motivates employees to stay with the company longer, lowering turnover rates and leading to more stable and dedicated team members.
A study by LinkedIn showed that 30% of employees were happier with their career development when offered on-the-job training in comparison to those who received no training.
Many on-the-job training methods as mentioned above can help employees in experiencing the tasks in real time and provide a detailed understanding about their job.
Encourages teamwork
On-the-job training allows new employees to form stronger relationships with their coworkers before they begin working. When faced with a challenge during the training period, new hires can support one another, and this collaborative attitude carries on to real work problems.
The process of experienced employees and new hires working together to complete a task and learn new skills is what helps to promote teamwork and is the first step in building a mindset of continuous learning.
Faster onboarding
On-the-job training allows for new hires to adapt faster to a new job. by immersing them in their duties and tasks right away.
Employees also appreciate having a training program take place at work since it allows them to develop their knowledge and skills without having to leave their work.
On the job training has been voted by seniors as their most preferred method of training by 71% of employees.
This hands-on approach reduces the time it takes for them to gain practical skills and information required to contribute productively to the team. Therefore, rather than investing long amounts of time in classroom learning style training, new hires will be able to make important contributions to the company right from their first day at work.
Flexibility
On-the-job training is tailored to an employee's specific needs, with the supervisor adding in new knowledge only when it is relevant to the training. Since this training method is less rigorous, the supervisor can alter it on the fly to accommodate any unanticipated changes or new information.
Furthermore, on-the-job training prevents new workers from acquiring any company details that are not relevant to their job role.
Attract top talent
Investing in your organization's Learning and Development (L&D) program is highly beneficial when it comes to attracting the right candidates. When a potential hire sees that a firm is consistently investing in their employee's professional and personal development by providing hands-on training and skill enhancement opportunities, the company becomes immediately more attractive.
By providing a path for continuous learning and career progression, your company will stand out to top talents, making on-the-job training an effective tool for spotting and hiring employees who are motivated to learn and improve.
Financial benefits
On-the-job training assists employers in reducing the amount of usual expenditures that come with onboarding such as training rooms, reference materials, presents, and travel costs.
Employees will now have easy access to all the resources that are relevant to their training, and supervisors who are ready to offer competent advice. Companies can also save costs in training locations which is often the case for off-the-job training and invest that money into more personalized coaching at the workplace instead.
Additionally, once employees have completed their on-the-job training, they will be able to start work immediately without further delay. This benefits the organization in terms of productivity, employee performance, and work outcomes.
How to implement on-the-job training in your workplace
There are six ways that you can incorporate on-the-job training into your organization:
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Determine prospective trainers: On-the-job training requires a trainer (or employee) who is experienced in their field and eager to help a new employee develop new skills. Therefore, when selecting a trainer, look for employees who have achieved outstanding performance so that they can offer their expertise to new hires. Moreover, choosing experienced employees to become trainees also indicates who is most likely to be promoted in the future.
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Create a structured training process: A defined plan is the foundation of any excellent training program. Therefore, before starting a training process, make sure to have a clear plan for how you will execute an on-the-job training that will help new hires to successfully adopt new skills. Make a list of tasks that are expected to be completed on a regular basis, as well as the regulations and procedures that new employees should be aware of.
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Streamline the learning process: Provide new hires with easy access to a learning environment that includes all the relevant training resources that cover different aspects of their job. This allows for employees to retain the most important information. Moreover, new hires will know where to go before requesting further help and taking time away from other employee's duties.
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Allow employees to put their skills to the test: New hires should be able to demonstrate their new skills after completing training or coaching period. Trainers should then assess the new employee's performance throughout this time and keep track of any problems that arise so that they can be addressed and improved on. Once the training is completed, do a final evaluation to ensure that the employee has acquired the skills required to do well in their job.
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Check-in before and after the training: Depending on the duration of a training, always make sure to stay involved in the training process and continuously evaluate progress. It also shows new hires that you care about their development. For example, you can assess the new employee's skills after they have studied a specific part of their job and see how much they have achieved.
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Get feedback and improve: Following the completion of on-the-job training, request feedback from both the trainer and trainee. This will give you valuable insights into the effectiveness of your training program. You can assess how successful on-the-job training is for your reorganization. Following that, you can also evaluate the areas that may require more improvement or skills that require further training time. Ask trainees what was missing for them to make the learning experience better, and ask trainers what can be done to make the training process more effective for them.
On-the-job training has several benefits that will increase the speed at which your employees develop new skills and become masters at what they do. However, how do you get the training done right?
Retorio's AI Coaching platform allows you to create your own training that is personalized to your organizational needs, and it also allows you to immerse your employees in various real-life scenarios that will prepare them to handle every situation with confidence and expertise.
With AI-powered video role-play, you will be delivered personalized feedback in real-time and recommended exercises for you to improve and learn new skills. What's better is that you get to learn at your own pace in a psychologically safe space, and it is accessible 24/7! Keep track of your training progress, and see what you can improve on and what you have done well. It is all catered for you!
Make on-the-job training an enjoyable and productive experience for your organization. Train with Retorio today, about what you will face at work tomorrow.
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