Looking for an ID job? TOP TEN TIPS
The instructional design industry has changed rapidly over the last three years and anyone with an advanced degree who is trying to break into our field is probably finding it more and more difficult.
So, what is a talented and educated learning professional to do?
1. Ask yourself, is this a passion or a job? If a passion, keep going down the list.
2. Are you versatile? Can you fit in or lead in the various areas involved?
3. Are you supremely confident that you can command the tools of the trade?
4. Can you motivate the knowledge owners (SMEs for example) to share?
5. Do you have enough confidence to command the organization?
6. Are you motivated to learn and apply organizational psychology?
7. Can you receive criticism without taking it personally?
8, Can you justify your hourly efforts against expectations?
9. Do you develop a Plan B to account for change?
10. Live gratefully, share it with your peers, support staff, managers, and clients.
Here are the top five changes i am seeing in the industry.
- Moving from LMS platforms to job aids to be used in the flow of work.
- Using a Learning Records Store like Rustici to gain insight into the job aids and learning experiences that people use
- Using Ai to fine tune learning tools so they better align with business goals in real time.
- Entrenched learning professionals are hindering the evolution of learning tools and experiences.
- Instructional Design curricula in Higher-Ed is behind the times which is so strange because some of the most pioneering work in learning experience is being done there i.e. Blackboard, D2L, Rustici and by Macmillan Learning. with Achieve.
SUMMARY
If you want to land that job, you need to represent yourself as a versatile contributor who can be a team player or a leader as conditions demand. I think you should also mention how the needs of every industry are changing and that you, above the rest of the candidates, have the insight to help realign L&D to meet changing business needs.
You want to work for a company that is struggling with out of date lessons trapped in an LMS platform. And the measure of success for them is not how quickly you can launch a linear Power-Point SCORM package but how quickly what you launch can change the financial outcomes of the company.
AND, know their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), for that is what L&D should be focused on improving. At an interview, ask, "Before we discuss what I can do for you, what are your company measures of success, your KPIs?"
Probe and then qualify. "Oh, employee retention? Let's talk about how I can help you improve that KPI."
Get in their head and make them see that you truly understand them and can help their cause within the company.
Good Luck!
Since 1976, Doug Marlowe continues to consult to various clients in a variety of industries in how to adapt to change because Shift Happens no matter how hard we fight it. Contact Doug at 561-303-3301 or at doug.marlowe@teachITnow.net
