For communicators, on-the-job training is a way of life

Communication professionals may require additional training given advancements in digital technology and changes to the media landscape over the last few decades. This training can come in many different formats, including both formal and informal settings. A formal setting may include an in-person training or webinar focused on one topic or a series of topics, while an informal experience could be an employee taking a free online course in their spare time to up-skill himself or herself in the moment. 

Related: 10 Best Online Classes for a Media, PR or Marketing Role

Let's take a closer look at some of the training opportunities available to communication professionals, both formal and informal.

SOURCES: Public Relations Society of America; International Association of Business Communicators; Harvard Extension School; Lynda.com

Just as communicators need to identify which digital tool is best for which job or story, they also may need to identify which professional development opportunities are right for them! 

On-the-job training gives employees the opportunity to up-skill themselves independently, can help address employee weaknesses and can improve overall performance, which could all lead to higher employee job satisfaction (Frost, 2019). Frost (2019) wrote, "Employees who feel appreciated and challenged through training opportunities may feel more satisfaction toward their jobs" (para. 9). When managers provide employees with training opportunities, it shows that they care about growth and development and not just the bottom line.

References

Frost, S. (2019, February 5). The Importance of Training & Development in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-training-development-workplace-10321.html.