Top 6 ways to get the most from your training dollar

So you have decided to invest some time and money into training. Maybe you want to do your job better. Maybe you want to brush up your resume in preparation for a new job search with some long overdue certifications. You have probably realized that no matter what type of training you decide to do, it’s not cheap. So how do you maximize your investment in both time and money to get the most out of your education? I have six suggestions that will help get the most bang for your education buck (I wish I had this list when I was in college).

1. Don’t over estimate your skills

Maybe you look at the outline for a class or maybe you just have something against a class that has ‘Introduction’ in the name and you decide that you already know everything that is going to be covered in the class so you don’t need to waste your time with level one and you can proceed to level two. This is your first mistake. Typically the introduction class sets the stage for all of the other classes to follow. At the very least, the intro class introduces terminology that you'll need as you proceed on to more advanced classes.
But really, a know-it-all attitude is not in your best interest. I go to a number of seminars and no matter how well I know a particular subject, I always get a different point of view, or learn a new facet about a particular product. If you think that you know everything, then either you should be in a different field, or you are setting yourself up for a terrible disappointment. Take the Level One class so you get the most out of any subsequent classes.

2. Have a specific for goal in mind

Come into the class with a project or outcome in mind. If your company is sending you to training, what project will you work on once the training is complete? If you are taking the class to get certified, then what do you want to be when you grow up? Every time that I start a new class, I ask the students, “Why are you here?” Most students tell me, “Because my boss sent me”, if they answer at all. (I know classes start early in the morning, but come on, I don’t bite).
If you have a specific outcome in mind for the class, mention it at the start of the class, particularly if/when the instructor asks. I like to put this kind of information on the whiteboard. As we cover concepts in class, I can refer to the list on the whiteboard to further explain a particular section or give students ideas how they could (or will) do something differently. This really helps students understand how to apply Microsoft technology to the problems they are trying to solve far better than just some dry information that has no basis in reality.