On-the-job training: Meaning, methods and advantages
Speaking of employees training, it is categorized into two main types which are on-the-job training and off-the-job training. On-the-job training is held in a workplace while off-the-job training is held outside a workplace. Training as whole helps organizations to increase productivity but also helps employees to gain or to expand their skills and knowledge of working.
This article is going to dig more about on-the-job training and will cover different angles including meaning, methods and advantages of on-the-job training.
What is on-the-job training?
On-the-job training or on job training is a training which takes place within a workplace, whereby employees are trained or learning how to do the job while performing duties under the guidance of a mentor, supervisor or an experienced employee. Unlike off-the-job training which involves training employees out of their work environments, on-the-job training involves training employees within their workplaces where by employees gain real experience of performing the jobs.
Methods of on-the-job training
There are different methods for training employees on the job. Examples of on-the-job training methods includes,
- Job rotation
- Job instruction
- Orientation
- Mentoring
- Job shadowing
- Internship
Job rotation
This is an act of shifting employees from one job to another. Through job rotation, employees can can get experience of different jobs and learn how they are performed but also understand problems faced by employees in other jobs.
Job instruction
As the name suggests, in this method a trainer gives trainees or employees instructions of how to do a specific job step by step and let them do it by themselves. A trainer assess the performance of employees and gives them feedback about the task they have performed and correct them if there is any errors.
Orientation
This is a training method for new employees. It involves giving new employees the information about the organization, service, as well as the job they will be performing.
Mentoring
Mentoring is when an employee shares the knowledge, skills and experience about the job to another employee so as to help him or her to grow and develop. This method provides an employee with both job skills and teamwork skills.
Job shadowing
This is on-job-training method whereby an employee learns by watching another or other employees when are doing their jobs. An employee gain knowledge and learn new techniques of doing job by observing what experienced employees do.
Internship
This is a training program offered by employers whereby people who are not a part of an organization or not employed in an organization (usually students and postgraduates) are given a chance to work for a certain period of time for the aim of learning and developing their carriers. The trainees may or may not be paid during internship depending on the organization.
Advantages of On-the-job training
Reduces training costs
Organizations are not required to set high preparation budget for on-job-traing since it is held at the workplace. It uses tools and facilities available within a workplace but also hiring a mentor is not necessary, the experienced or skilled employees can play that role.
Employees gain real experience
Since employees are trained within real working environment in which they use or they will use to perform their jobs, it gives them real experience.
Fast learning
With on-the-job training employees understand better and faster than when are trained off the job. This because employees are learning practically using the same tools and facilities within the same environment in which they use or they will use to perform their jobs.
Fast adaption of a job
It may take long time for new employees to adapt the working environment and a job itself if are trained off job. But with On-the-job training, an employees do not acquire new skills only but also adapt a job and the working environment easily and fast. This will help them to be more confident when performing their jobs.
Increase productivity
The organizational output depends much on employees ability of performing jobs, and always skilled and knowledgeable employees are better at work. On-the-job training improves employees skills and knowledge which results in increase in production within an organization.
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