Vanessa Branscome

Recent Posts

Instructional Designer Common Mistakes Using Training Handouts

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Jan 15, 2020 9:14:09 AM

Instructional Designer Common Mistakes Using Training Handouts

A good Instructional Designer will use best practices when creating training handouts. Here are common mistakes you should avoid.

They know that training handouts are very powerful training tools. Not only do they provide reinforcement to participants of content learned, but they also stay with the participants for a long time after the training. However, many trainers are so focused on creating their presentations that they wait until the last minute to create their handouts and often they don't align to the learning objectives. Handouts are a critical part of your training and having the proper content on your handouts is an important part of the total training experience.

Here are a few mistakes you want to avoid when trying to create a successful handout:

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Topics: instructional designer, facilitator, facilitators, contract trainer

A Shifted Focus on Soft Skills Training

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Jul 4, 2019 10:00:00 AM

A Shifted Focus on Soft Skills Training

Tips From Your Corporate Training Company

 

Out with the old and in with the new. The beginning of a new cycle often brings various changes for organizations. The emphasis is on refining strategies and exceeding past performance levels. One ongoing priority for employers is to focus on evaluating candidates for soft skills in the workplace while also investing in ensuring their current teams possess these essential qualities. While there has traditionally been more emphasis on hard skills, the realization has grown that there's a need to balance this with strong soft skills among employees.

 

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Topics: corporate training company, emotional intelligence, soft skills training, employee soft skills

How Contract Trainers Creating Winning Learning Experiences

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Feb 13, 2019 12:36:34 PM

How Contract Trainers Can Create Winning Learning Experiences 

Contract CONTRACT TRAINING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS


In the Learning and Development space, it is critical that you always keep your audience at the forefront of learning. This can be said whether you are a Trainer, Instructional Designer, or eLearning Developer. If your goal is to create a meaningful learning experience, then you need to really understand your audience in order to help determine what your content should be focused on. There is no one-size-fits-all approach since each learner is different.

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How to Maximize Your Interview

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Oct 26, 2018 10:02:24 AM

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR INTERVIEW

TIPS FOR CONTRACT TRAINER SUCCESS

Interview Series Part 2 

The interview starts as soon as you walk into the building, and those first few minutes can have a major impact on how the rest of your interview goes. You never know who you’ll bump into in the restroom or while you’re grabbing a cup of coffee in the waiting area. Your interviewer could be in the same room as you and you may not even realize it. It is so important that you remain friendly, polite, and professional to each person you may encounter.

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Topics: contract training consultant, contract trainer success, interview questions

How To Answer, "Do You Have Any Questions for Me?"

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Oct 1, 2018 3:43:18 PM

CONTRACT TRAINER SUCCESS

An interview is not only a chance for the hiring manager to get to know you, but also a chance for you to get to know them, the company, and the day to day challenges and responsibilities of the role you are applying for.  Asking well thought out questions at the end of your interview demonstrates your strong interest in the position as well as your desire to excel in the role.  In contrast, if you don’t ask any questions, your interviewer will assume that you’re either not interested in the role or that you haven’t done your homework.

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Topics: hiring learning consultants, contract trainer success, interview questions

How to Answer, "Tell Me About Your Employment Gap"

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Sep 21, 2018 9:44:17 AM

How to Answer, "Tell Me About Your Employment Gap"

Interview Series Part 1

Many people worry that a career gap is a career death sentence.  Sure, it may not be the ideal situation to be in when you’re getting asked about it at your interview- but there are ways to answer the question without bombing the interview.  Rest assured that it is still possible to get hired after a gap in employment, even one that was several years long!

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Topics: contract training consultant, contract trainer success, interview questions

How to Answer, "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Aug 24, 2018 11:02:43 AM

CONTRACT TRAINING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Interview Series Part I

You’ve just finished telling the hiring manager a little bit about yourself as a professional. Then they ask the question you’ve been waiting for- “So why do you want to work here?” You may think that this is such an obvious question to answer. You need a job, and they have an open position that needs to be filled. It’s as simple as that, right? Well, not exactly.

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Topics: contract training consultant, contract trainer success, interview questions

How to Answer, What's Your Greatest Weakness?

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Aug 17, 2018 4:43:03 PM

CONTRACT TRAINING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Interview Series Part I

Many people roll their eyes when they get asked this question (hopefully in their heads and not actually in front of the interviewer). Why do interviewers continue to ask this question?

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Topics: contract training consultant, contract trainer success, interview questions

How to Answer, "Tell Me About Yourself"

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Aug 8, 2018 3:44:00 PM

Consulting Interview Questions Tips


How to answer,"Tell Me About Yourself."

Interview Series Part 1

Most of the time, employers like to start the interview off with this mystifying question. For what seems like it may be a very simple question to answer, this question can make your palms sweat if you aren’t prepared.

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Topics: contract training consultant, contract trainer success, interview questions

Upcoming Training Industry Events You Don't Want to Miss

Posted by Vanessa Branscome on Aug 1, 2018 10:04:00 AM

Upcoming Training Industry Events You Don't Want to Miss

Bummed that you missed out on the conferences that took place earlier in the year? Don’t fret. It’s not too late to still attend an L&D Conference before 2018 is over.

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Topics: contract training consultant

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