advanced search

Learning Through On-the-Job Training

Feb 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Paul Rosenberg

How do you use on-the-job training to your advantage? Following a few basic project-management guidelines will make all the difference.

With the explosion of growth in the voice/data/video market, cabling contractors are finding themselves beating the bushes for qualified workers. Unfortunately, the search can take weeks or months. When you finally find someone you have to put him or her to work right away - often without proper training.

This situation has forced many contractors to use on-the-job training to keep the jobs moving and avoid missing deadlines. Is this type of training for everyone? No. But as we've explained, in today's fast-paced environment you might not have a choice. The key with this type of training is to somehow transfer knowledge from a highly skilled, experienced worker to a new employee, while maintaining the productivity of both workers. Obviously, this is much easier said than done!

Let's consider some points that will help you better accomplish this task.

- Repetition. Don't expect a trainee to retain all of the information after you've taught it just once. This is seldom the case.

- Teaching over time. Every point you cover should be reviewed on numerous occasions, each at least several days apart. This is not a quick operation - it will take time. If you rush, you may drive the trainee away altogether.

- Ask questions. Have your student answer questions. This way, you can be sure the information has sunk in. Make sure you ask questions some time - preferably days - after you have taught the information. This will verify that the student has learned from the lesson. However, don't ask questions about things you haven't taught yet. This is intimidating, not helpful.

- Use graphics. Have your student draw pictures. Come up with varieties of installations, and especially variations on the installation you are involved with during the training.

- Encourage your student to ask questions. Your student should ask many questions. If questions aren't forthcoming, keep prodding your student. You must locate gaps in the student's knowledge.

- Work hard to communicate well. Try many ways of communicating with your student. Remove all the obstacles you can, such as noise and other distractions. Avoid thinking about other things while teaching. Teach slowly. It's better to be thorough with one idea, than to partially cover five concepts. Explain the same idea in a variety of ways.

- Spend some time before and after work. Remember, training is a big job, and you'll need to have some time that is dedicated to training and nothing else. Also, the things you talk about after work may be remembered far better than the things you cover while walking on the job site. If it's at all possible to go over the newly trained material after work, take advantage of the opportunity.

- Choose your student's tasks carefully. Make sure you don't throw your student into a job that he or she does not understand. The first time your student does something new, you should participate. The second time, you should look over your student's shoulder so that you can answer any questions or concerns.

Final words. On-the-job training is a tough job. Poor training potentially leads to lost productivity, damaged equipment, and reworked installations that can easily put you out of business.

This correspondence course is offered in conjunction with BICSI, but is not directly sponsored by the organization. The intent of the course is to help students prepare for the written portion of the BICSI Installer Registration Program. This BICSI program also requires hands-on training, which is outside the scope of this correspondence course. This course is also offered as continuing education for those already registered as a BICSI apprentice, installer, or technician.

Sidebar: What You Should Teach on the Job

Following are some important technical concepts you should convey to your trainees:

- Basic cabling techniques. Securing cables, pulling cables through raceways and trays, fire-stopping, protecting cables, locating outlets, and installing boxes.

- Basic termination techniques. Punching-down conductors, installing modular connectors, pairing of conductors under 568 and other standards.

- Basic cable and conductor identification. Explaining your company's specific marking schemes.

- Basic testing techniques. Wiremapping, attenuation, and cross-talk are just the beginning.

- Basic networking. Explaining how signals are transferred from one computer to another.

- Basic computer communications and software. Explaining computer language and concepts such as what an NIC card is, and how to install one.

- Basic digital telephony. Explaining ISDN, ADSL, and T1 lines, as well as points of demarcation, protectors, point-to-point lines vs. switched service, etc.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue EC&M Magazine | April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters