How to Answer: How would you describe your training style?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Training Specialist job interview.
21. How would you describe your training style?
How to Answer
Your training style describes how you present information, explain tasks, communicate expectations, and make connections with your attendees. As an experienced training specialist, you have likely developed a preferred style for delivering your training sessions. The hiring company will have its preferred training style, and its employees will have preferred learning styles. For this reason, you must express the ways that your training style will be a match for the company and its people.
Show flexibility and avoid rigidity. Training is fluid and, although you will embrace your unique style, you should also show that you are ready to succeed in various training environments. Take the time to describe your style to the interviewer, and be sure to express that, no matter your approach; you put high-quality learning standards first.
Written by Christine Pasqueretta
Focus Your Answer On
Focus your response on ways you deliver highly engaging learner experiences that balance vision-setting and tactical takeaways. Share key tenets your style exhibits:
Emphasizing interactivity versus lectures: Bring concepts to life for participants through role-playing, case study discussions, and opportunities to apply new tools at the moment. This cements knowledge better than just passively listening.
Building in reflection points: Ensure ongoing learning transfer by scheduling reflection moments. Use journals, and group discussions at multiple intervals to capture progress, and reinforce key concepts over time.
Tying lessons directly to business/career impact: Help learners see their growth trajectory by regularly connecting program objectives back to performance needs. Show the what's-in-it-for-me value immediately then over time.
Celebrating wins: Motivate participants through stories, certificates, and recognition moments spotlighting achievements to keep the momentum going as they implement ideas after formal training concludes. Community builds self-efficacy.
Share 1-2 anecdotes describing favorite workshop moments that brought your approach to life. Convey passion for igniting the self-driven learning spark rather than just efficiently covering content during a one-off event.
Written by William Rosser on February 22nd, 2024
1st Answer Example
"My training style focuses first on establishing psychological safety so learners feel valued, are comfortable being vulnerable, and actively participate. I incorporate bonding moments using storytelling, small group interactions, and cultural acknowledgments to model inclusion. This builds a community for risk-taking as we tackle new concepts together.
From there, I deliver highly engaging sessions leveraging techniques like game-based learning, peer coaching circles, and flip classroom approaches with pre-work to maximize interest. For example, in my recent supervisor workshop on conflict resolution, we roleplayed tough scenarios pulling from real-life stories volunteers offered. Practicing solutions made concepts stick better than stale case studies ever could.
I also check for comprehension frequently using creative assessments, even song lyrics, to gauge growth in a memorable way versus boring quizzes. My priority is sustaining energy and advancing key takeaways through varied activities every 20 minutes so attention spans stay strong.
Post-session, I lead reflection roundtables for participants to set tangible goals for applying lessons over the next month. This built-in accountability partnership ensures actual behavior change between learning events. My personable style balances inspiration for their development with interactivity enabling it in their real lives after leaving my workshop."
Written by William Rosser on February 22nd, 2024
2nd Answer Example
"I describe my training style as learner-focused. I am flexible, and I am cognizant of tweaking my approach to suit the learning style of those I am educating. As a training specialist, I consider myself a guide or facilitator rather than an instructor, which has a strict tone. I go into each training with established learning objectives, and I follow an agenda; however, I am as flexible as possible with the pace of the training session attendees. When training, I lean on tangible and measurable examples to support the learning material, and I ask for learner participation as much as possible. I believe that when learners are active participants, they absorb the material faster and more effectively. From my research, it seems that Company ABC is seeking a training specialist who is learner-focused rather than the type to give learner-passive lectures. I am confident that my flexible and high-quality training standards will meet the needs of your teams and the company's objectives."
Written by Samantha Brown on March 13th, 2024