How I plan your first day…
I’m a Training Delivery Consultant in the Learning and Development department at Preston Brook and we run inductions for new starters on a regular basis. I’d say that’s pretty much my favourite course to run for a few reasons; loads of new people and the course is three or four weeks (Depending on which department you’re going into) so I can really get into it. For a week or so before the course starts, I start to prepare to make sure I’ve got everything I need. The more prepared I am, the easier and smoother it runs. That way, I can just enjoy the first few days without having to think about printing and running around in the call centre trying to get anything arranged and I can just look forward to it.
People rarely see all the preparation that goes into a course, whether it’s a biggy like the induction or a little hour long presentation, updating the guys about new tariffs coming out. We work hard behind the scenes to make it look like we don’t- if that makes sense? We like to make it look effortless, but it’s far from it!
Something I always enjoy is getting my posters ready for the room. Hand written posters always look more friendly and approachable that a load of corporate printed ones. I can put some of myself into them and use loads of colour. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spent ages on one though, only to make a spelling mistake half way through and have to bin it!
I’m a bit particular about how all my materials look because I know this has an influence on how our new delegates feel when they start the induction. It’s important that my training room looks inviting on day one and we spend a few weeks in the same training room, so I want to strike a balance between being light and airy and some interesting things on the walls, so when people walk in, they can see from the start that this isn’t going to be the usual induction that you would get at most call centres. We’ve worked hard to break away from that and done a good job too.
I have loads of little behind the scenes bits and pieces too; I go and see lots of the managers to arrange for visits all the way through the course and set up my spreadsheets for attendance and to track all the system sign ons that each person needs to take calls. I order the attaché cases with headsets that each new starter gets to put their things in, put together day one folders with all the forms we need to fill in and make sure all of our trainer notes and materials are bang up to date.
The weekend before the start of a new induction, I tend to think over loads of little details; things that I’ve tried that really make a difference to my courses. No two inductions are the same- the mixture of people and the group dynamics are different every time. Something that never changes though is the sense of fun we have, that has never changed over the years I’ve been doing this role. We always have a laugh and make a load of new mates. Every single time.
- Karen