How To

How to prepare for a Training Needs Analysis 1: The Organisation 2: The Individual Curriculum Vitae (CV) Job Description Feedback Self Assessment Ambitions Learning Styles Skills Scans
	1: The Organisation Before embarking on a TNA the organisation needs to reflect on the evidence that can be used to support the TNA. The evidence may be directly related to the problem that has prompted the need for a TNA to take place, or the proposed changes that the organisation may be entering into. These changes may be internally initiated or externally triggered.
The evidence for review and/or reflection includes annual reports, monthly targets, finance reports, quality audits. Feedback from customers (complaints and accolades), departments, key staff and stake holders are all valuable in the identification of training needs. Not all of this has to be shared with your advisor but elements may be used as examples and may help you to respond to questions such as: Why have you decided there is a problem? What makes you think this can be addressed by training? What part of the business will be enhanced by this training? Where is the training focused and who does that involve? Do you have trainers internally or does this need external support? Do you know how your employees prefer to learn? Has anything similar taken place in the past and what were the results? Having considered the ‘problem’ from a number of different angles prior to a TNA will make the process a much more constructive one. Top.......
2: The Individual: For the individual, the information that you require for a TNA includes evidence of your skills, knowledge and experiences that you have acquired in education, training and work, and also through home, hobbies and interests. Below is a list of things that will help you to prepare for a TNA. Even if you are not intending to talk to an advisor these are things that will help you to plan your future career.
A: Curriculum Vitae: If you haven’t got a Curriculum Vitae (CV) then now is the time to create one. A CV is a document which contains relevant education, training, work (including responsibilities) and interests. This is a ‘living’ document as it continually grows reflecting your increasing work experience and learning opportunities. Top....... B: Job description: You will need a current copy of your job (Job Description) and it is good to match your skills and abilities with the requirements of the job. Do any tasks cause you difficulty or any anxiety? Do you think you could do something more quickly and more easily with training? Is there any part of your job you would like to know more about or explore in relation to future job opportunities? Does anyone else’s lack of training significantly impact on your job? Do you work well in your team? Top....... C: Feedback: Other people are useful in helping you to identify strengths and needs. For example, your annual review/appraisal should pinpoint areas for future development. You can ask your work colleagues for informal feedback and you can check out what you think about your performance with colleagues and/or trusted friends. Top....... D: Self-assessment: There are self-assessment activities that you can do and these will give you opportunities to reflect on yourself and how you operate at work. Check out the Skills Scans below, try the Self Awareness on-line programme or work through some of these self-assessment sites that you can find on the Internet. e.g. Analysing your Skills Transferable skills Survey Understanding your Personality and Characteristics Personality Test Please note. These are suggested sites only and we take no responsibility for content and outcomes. Top....... E: Ambitions: What are your ambitions? Have you identified other jobs you would like to progress to in your company and do you know what those jobs require? Do some fact finding and find out what you would need to do to move onwards and upwards. Top....... F: Learning Styles: Do you know what your preferred learning style is? Consider how in the past you have learnt best, for example, what was your best learning experience and what was your worst? Do you like reading information or do you need to be more ‘hands-on’? Do you work better in a group or alone? You can search the internet for self-assessment activities which will help you to identify how you learn best. Birmingham grid for Learning See, hear and doing quiz. Top....... G: Skills Scans: Check out what you already do and what you need to demonstrate for one of the following qualifications. NVQ Level 2. Team Leading NVQ Level 3. Management NVQ Level 4. Management Top....... Working though this list will prepare you to take part in an effective TNA. To seek the services of a TNA Advisor please contact us. Top.......