How does one become a trainer?

[lancealmekian]

Hello everyone.

I'm a level one tech-support agent and I've always wanted to become a trainer since I worked in a call center, but about half a year ago when I took a qualifying exam for that post I didn't make it. It was a psychological exam (the conductor of the exams told me there can be no wrong answers in the exam, that it was just an evaluation thing. I thought he was a psychometrician) that wasn't hard at all, and yet I didn't pass (never got around to doing a slide presentation). I keep asking myself, what could I have done wrong? (I have all the qualifications except experiencing in working as a trainer.)

Anyway, that exam is the least of my problems right now. I'm wanting to apply as a trainer again soon (a new-hire orientations trainer or a communication trainer), but I don't quite know where to start. I'd appreciate very much if expert trainers here can provide me information about the things I need to have/know to make it there (psycho-socio skills, people skills, management skills whatnot). I know the basics of teaching/training because my mother once worked as a teacher (every major book in teaching and training that she used are accessible to me and I've been reading them recently) so I don't think I'd have problems handling the job when I'm there, but I'm dying to know what I need to do to get there in the first place.

Thanks so much.

[VP-Allard]

Hey there lancealmekian!

My main advice for you would be to make sure you don't get too technical in the classroom. Terms like trunk, vdn, vector and what not may be your daily bread but may be completely new to non-technicians.

Also, take it slow and be patient! Perhaps that should be my main advice: be patient! Dare I say it again: be patient!

Good luck!
Cheers,
Allard.