Tell me about a time when you had to modify and improve a training program. What was the impact?

Question

Ryan Brown · Accepted Answer

"Last year, I was asked to improve and then perform a training session with our frontline workers on the signs of PTSD and available treatments. Frontline workers face trauma every day, and it can take a toll on their well-being. I knew the existing material was heavy, and I wanted to find ways to lighten up the delivery while still keeping the right tone regarding the serious topic of PTSD. I decided to add a few team-building exercises and improv exercises where the attendees would get a hypothetical situation, and they needed to act out how they would approach the issue. It was amazing to see how quickly the attendees jumped into the role play and how they supported each other when one person felt 'stuck' with what to do or how to respond. In the end, my leadership team was impressed with how I added my style to the existing material. When the subject matter is serious, it's okay to add a lighter component to put the attendees at ease and help them feel more comfortable with opening up during the sessions."

Ryan Brown · Answer

The interviewer is assessing your ability to make impactful changes to a training session. Think of a time when you put your spin on existing training materials to improve the content delivery, the overall content messaging, or how the attendees received the content. Be sure to include details of how your modifications improved the program overall.

William Rosser · Answer

When asked about a time you had to modify and improve a training program, reflect on a specific example where you identified a need for improvement. Walk the interviewer through your process:1. Diagnose the issue using data (evaluations, focus groups, job performance).
2. Describe the specific changes you made and why.
3. Highlight the impact of your modifications (quantitative and qualitative).
4. Share what you learned and how it's shaped your approach.Emphasize your data-driven decision-making, your ability to drive measurable outcomes, and your commitment to continuous improvement. Use the example to showcase your expertise, impact, and passion for creating effective learning experiences. A strong answer will demonstrate your strategic approach to program enhancement, your focus on tangible results, and your dedication to growing as a Training and Development professional.

William Rosser · Answer

"A couple of years ago, I was leading the rollout of a new diversity, equity, and inclusion training for our managers. The program was designed to help leaders understand and mitigate unconscious bias, and create more inclusive team environments. We launched the program with high hopes, but after the first couple of sessions, I started to get some concerning feedback. Participants were reporting that while they found the content interesting, they weren't sure how to apply it in their day-to-day work. They felt the scenarios and examples were a bit too theoretical and didn't reflect the nuances of our specific organizational culture. This was a red flag for me. I knew that for this training to have a real impact, managers needed to walk away with concrete, actionable strategies they could implement immediately.

So, I decided to pause the rollout and do a deeper dive into the program. I started by analyzing the participant evaluations in detail, looking for patterns in the feedback. I also conducted a series of focus groups with managers to better understand their specific challenges and needs when it came to DEI. Based on this data, I worked with my team to redesign several key aspects of the program. First, we rewrote the scenarios to be more aligned with our company's specific context and challenges. We included real examples of bias-related incidents that had happened in our organization and brainstormed practical solutions together. We also added a new section on inclusive leadership behaviors, with a focus on actionable strategies managers could start using right away. Things like how to run an inclusive meeting, how to give equitable performance feedback, and how to advocate for diverse talent in hiring and promotion decisions.

Finally, we restructured the delivery of the program to be more interactive and discussion-based. Instead of long lectures, we incorporated more small group activities, role-playing exercises, and opportunities for participants to share their own experiences and perspectives. When we relaunched the updated program, the difference was night and day. Participant engagement scores soared, and more importantly, we started to see real behavior change back on the job."

Anonymous User · Answer

"When I was working with the police, after conducting interviews and surveys both with them and vulnerable community groups to determine each side's issues, I tailored their existing program to incorporate what the community needed. They had not connected their training with their community."

Anonymous User · Answer

"When I first started building our training program, one of the first things I noticed was that it did not convey foundational knowledge of the industry. The training addressed internal company processes, but agents didn't really understand the language of the industry we were in. I created a slide show of photo and video content that thoroughly explored the industry and gave them a foundational understanding. Then we built a digital scavenger hunt and a group discussion component so that agents could work to find more information and get acclimated to the industry. This helped build their confidence."

Anonymous User · Answer

"When time is of the essence, the first place is to cut practice, this is where the learner retains. VOA indicated that we were spending too much time discussing topics that they were not encountered in their day-to-day function and had a missed opportunity to provide more insight/practice the common scenarios they encounter. VOC indicated that our customers wanted to be heard and have their issues resolved efficiently. Restructured application exercises to focus on meaningful scenarios that VOA indicated were the top 10 scenarios that they struggle with. Intentional with presenting a case study, providing an opportunity to learn how to navigate resources to identify viable solutions, and how to communicate those solutions to the customer to deliver service in the way our customers expect. Resulted in improved proficiency of roughly 20% and engagement in the 97th percentile"

Tell me about a time when you had to modify and improve a training program. What was the impact?

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29. Tell me about a time when you had to modify and improve a training program. What was the impact?

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