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Breaking into L&D

Hi all. I'm an experienced eLearning specialist, having worked in various senior roles in companies that supply adult, workplace-based eLearning. I've recently started a Level 5 diploma in L&D and am looking to get into a corporate L&D role. I decided to make the move so that I can help decide what learning and training is needed in an organisation and see the impact of that on learners, rather than just forever fulfilling an order!

This is a career transition for me - I'm really experienced in a niche area of L&D but I'm looking to generalise, not specialise.

Where I'm stuck is that I don't have a long career track behind me of junior L&D roles (e.g. trainer moving to training manager) so it's a harder story to tell in an CV or an interview, although I'm very proud of my own journey! Also I have a lot of experience in one sector but there aren't many employers in that sector where I live now so another reason to diversify.

Should I lower my expectations and go for junior roles? Even junior roles seem to want solid corporate L&D experience, which I know plenty about but technically I don't have.

Any advice welcome :)

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  • Hi Neha
    This is just an opinion but it doesn't sound if you have a lot of training hours. Normally I would expect a senior L&D manager to have some experience delivering training but thats just me maybe I'm old skool.
    If were you I would be looking to start with an organisation, perhaps a smaller one, with a solid commitment to L&D that deliver a range of interventions from soft skills to specialist training and with some outsourcing. It would be a good place to build up your experience before moving on to that corner office role.
    I hope you enjoy the course and good luck.
  • In reply to Jim:

    Thanks Jim. I think a lot of employers are old skool and classroom-based training is still really important for companies that never went fully remote/hybrid over the past couple of years (e.g. healthcare or manufacturing). I probably need to highlight the training experience I do have. Good advice, thanks.