Training & Development

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Roles and Work Environment
Skills and Training
Industry Timeline
Find Opportunities
Applying and Interviewing
Additional Industry Resources

Roles and Work Environment

Training and development professionals help train employees or other adults, usually in a business or organization setting. Many work through a human resources department or a specific organization dedicated to training employees for other companies. Here are some examples of industries where training specialists are common:

Scientific or technical services
Healthcare
Finance and insurance
Educational services
Administrative services
Universities

While the type of roles may vary depending on setting, training and development specialists often will perform tasks such as an employee needs assessment, designing and creating training materials, delivering a training, and reviewing and evaluating the training. These sessions may include giving lectures, facilitating discussions and team exercises, creating videos or manuals, and using technology to deliver content.

Skills and Training

Training and development professionals may come from a variety of backgrounds, depending on the sector they plan to work in. These include degrees in business, social sciences, or education. Additional expertise might include instructional design, educational or organizational psychology. Professional organizations like the Society for Human Resource Management and Association for Talent Development often offer certification programs that specialize in this area. Here are some skills that are helpful for professional trainers:

Analytical/assessment skills
Communication and public speaking
Creativity
Instructional/teaching skills
Familiarity with technical platforms

Industry Timeline

The timeline for roles in Training & Development will depend on the specific companies and industries you are looking into. Individual companies may have an annual recruiting cycle or may hire based on need throughout the year. You may see training and human resources roles throughout the fall and spring.

Find Opportunities

Connecting with human resource professionals on-Grounds is a great way to learn more about this field. Like UVA, most large businesses or organizations have a human resources department, so look for internship postings! You can also look for opportunities to train others through any part-time job or student organization, depending on your role.

On-Grounds

UVA Society for Human Resource Management Chapter
CORE - trains other student organizations around sexual assault prevention
Career Peer Educators
Peer Health Educators
UVA HR - learn about the Education and Training resources offered for employees by UVA's Human Resources department

Off-Grounds

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Charlottesville Chapter
Society for Human Resource Management Job Board
Human Resources Rotational Programs - such as programs offered by Capital One and Citi

Applying and Interviewing

Resumes and Cover Letters

Make sure to check out the Resumes and Cover Letters section of the website for helpful advice and sample resumes and cover letters.

Interviewing

If you have never interviewed before, make sure to check out the interviewing section of our website. You can also conduct a mock interview with a career counselor for practice.