Tell me about a time when you received negative feedback after a training session. What was the criticism, and how did you react?
After a busy and demanding day of training, the last thing you want to hear is negative feedback on your work. However, criticism can be beneficial if you learn how to accept the feedback and implement appropriate and timely changes. As a successful Corporate Trainer, you know it's essential to make regular improvements to your training materials and methods. By applying the information you receive through constructive feedback, you can ensure that your training sessions generate the best possible results. By posing this question to you, your interviewer wants to know how you sort through criticism. They also want to see evidence that you take feedback and apply it to improve your work performance. Knowing that no trainer is perfect, your interviewer wants you to be open and honest about a time when you received negative feedback and how you put that feedback to good use.
"When I first joined my current organization as their Corporate Trainer, I received criticism from a trainee in an anonymous post-training survey. The trainee said that it seemed I did not have an in-depth understanding of the manufacturing industry. This trainee was correct, and I felt a sting of embarrassment at first. I came to the role with a human resources background and previously worked in the logistics industry; however, I wasn't as knowledgeable in manufacturing as I could have been. I knew that this trainee's feedback was accurate, and it was my responsibility to improve so that I did not disappoint more trainees in the future. I quickly enrolled in a few courses, including Six Sigma for Beginners, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, and Process Control. All of these were promoted by my organization and approved by my manager. I gained a much stronger understanding of manufacturing environments, operational best practices, business processes, and performance in a manufacturing environment through these courses. As a result, I felt much more confident that I could offer future trainees the best possible learning experience because I possessed a much stronger knowledge of their work environment and industry. The next time I facilitated the same training session, my lesson plans and delivery were much more in-depth, and I received a 100% feedback score from the trainees. It's never easy to receive negative comments; however, I will always consider helpful and honest criticism. I have learned to filter through feedback and listen to what is constructive. If hired as your Corporate Trainer, I will continue to use feedback as an opportunity to improve. Rather than taking feedback personally, I will look inward to understand further what I can do to improve. I will be proactive about implementing necessary changes and updates to my training sessions and identifying weaknesses so that the sessions are as impactful as possible for your deserving team."
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