Trainer
Kaiwhakangungu/Kaiwhakaako
Alternative titles for this job
Trainers plan and provide training courses for employees of businesses, government and other organisations.
Pay
Trainers usually earn
$56K-$82K per year
Training advisers usually earn
$82K-$128K per year
Source: Hays, 2020.
Job opportunities
Pay
Pay for trainers varies depending on skills and experience.
- Training coordinators usually earn between $56,000 and $82,000 a year
- Training advisers usually earn between $82,000 and $128,000.
Source: Hays, 'FY 2020/21 Salary Guide', 2020.
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)
What you will do
Trainers may do some or all of the following:
- assess the needs of trainees
- design face-to-face learning activities and training programmes for organisations
- design online instructional tools and learning programmes
- create and implement coaching plans
- run training programmes and learning activities
- develop resources
- create assessment standards and outcomes
- measure learning both pre and post-training
- provide assessment data and feedback to trainees and the organisation.
Skills and knowledge
Trainers need to have:
- knowledge of the subject area they are teaching
- coaching and teaching skills
- an understanding of learning theories and learner behaviour principles
- skills in designing learner modules, for both online and face-to-face training
- an understanding of UX (user experience) design and accessibility requirements
- IT skills.
Working conditions
Trainers:
- usually work regular office hours, but may also work evenings and weekends
- may work in different locations, including offices, workshops and classrooms
- may travel to run training workshops and courses.
Entry requirements
There are no specific requirements to become a trainer. However, you need to have experience in a particular field before you can train others. Examples of such fields include:
- teaching – especially literacy and numeracy
- management
- human resources
- computer administration and programming
- trades.
Employers may prefer to hire trainers who have a qualification in adult teaching or instructional design.
- Open Polytechnic website - information on the New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5)
- Open Polytechnic website - information on the New Zealand Certificate in Assessment Practice (Level 4)
- Wintec website - information on the New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 4)
Secondary education
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a trainer. However, English, social studies and digital technologies are useful.
Personal requirements
Trainers need to be:
- skilled at communicating with adults from a range of backgrounds and cultures
- friendly and confident
- understanding, patient and tolerant
- adaptable
- well-organised.
Useful experience
Useful experience for trainers includes:
- teaching
- coaching
- managing staff
- public speaking.
Find out more about training
- New Zealand Association for Training and Development (NZATD)
- (04) 570 2460 - nzatd@nzatd.org.nz - www.nzatd.org.nz
What are the chances of getting a job?
Online trainers in demand
Opportunities for online trainers are strong as the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for online learning. Instructional designers with experience in designing online courses and activities for adult students are in particular demand.
Trainers are still in demand for some face-to-face training. This is because some companies want a trainer on-site to assess the training needs in their organisation, then make training plans and workshops. Literacy and numeracy training for staff is in particularly high demand.
According to the Census, 2,208 trainers worked in New Zealand in 2018.
More demand for trainers in bigger companies
More trainer job opportunities exist at bigger companies, as they have a greater need for employee training and development.
At smaller companies, the human resources adviser may do some trainer tasks.
Adult education qualification can increase your chances of getting a job
A New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Learning (Level 4 or 5) can increase your chances of getting a job. The qualification gives a good understanding of learning theories and covers learning and development.
Types of employers varied
Trainers may work for:
- businesses and government organisations as in-house trainers – for example, working in information technology
- training consultancies, which offer general or specialist training services on topics such as sales or management
- universities and polytechnics
- industry training organisations, doing work such as on-site agriculture training.
Sources
- Bain, K, organisational development specialist, New Zealand Association of Training and Development, careers.govt.nz interview, February 2021.
- New Zealand Association of Training and Development, 'Competency Framework', accessed March 2021, (www.nzatd.org.nz).
- Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)
Progression and specialisations
Trainers may progress to work in:
- human resources
- tutoring or teaching
- project management.
Trainers may also progress to set up their own businesses.
Last updated 13 April 2021