IT trainer

Entry Requirements:

You could get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• volunteering

University

You could do a relevant foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• computing
• business
• human resources
• learning support

Entry requirements:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course like a Level 3 Certificate in IT User Skills.

This will teach you about using IT systems in a range of jobs.

A training qualification, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's Level 3 Award in Learning and Development , can help to improve your training skills.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

If you have IT qualifications or skills, you can complete a learning and skills teacher higher apprenticeship.

You'll need a qualification in the subject you want to teach. Employers will be looking for relevant up-to-date industry experience.

You'll also need to show ability in English, maths and IT.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

You may move into training from a hands on IT role.

Volunteering

You could do voluntary teaching, for example helping students with disabilities to use IT and assistive technology. Volunteering experience could give you an advantage when you apply for jobs.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Skills:

• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• excellent verbal communication skills
• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• active listening skills
• leadership skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work on your own
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to read English
• knowledge of media production and communication
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• concentration skills
• a good memory
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

IT trainers design and teach computer courses.

In your day-to-day job you could:

• assess training needs and agree learning aims
• design new training programmes or adapt existing ones
• create training materials
• manage the roll-out of new projects
• teach IT skills
• assess training
• give feedback to learners and management
• keep records up to date
• design e-learning resources for online learners

Location : You could work in an office, at a training centre, at a college or at a client's business.

Salary:

Starter : £20,000
Experienced : £40,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 39 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends flexibly

Career Path:

You could become a lead trainer, department manager, area training co-ordinator or a freelance trainer or consultant.

You could teach in a further education college.

Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education .

You could also move into technical writing, project management or work in other areas of IT, like e-learning development or publishing.