On The Job Vs Off The Job Training

When starting a new role in a business, you’ll likely be provided with one of two different methods of training. On the job training and off the job training. Each of which has their own advantages and disadvantages, and suit different types of people. In this blog, we’ll take a look at on and off the job training, what they are, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

 

What is on the job training?

On the job training is the process of learning through practical work onsite. This means the new employee will work alongside an experienced member of staff, or professional onsite trainer, and learn by watching what they do and trying it themselves. It’s the hands on approach to learning in which you are taught onsite and do real work.

 

Pros and cons of on the job training

Benefits	Drawbacks
Quick - on the job training tends to be the quickest way to learn as you’re completing practical work like any other employee. Learn from employees - the people that know the role best, are the ones that do it day in and day out. You’re likely to learn more practical information from employees than you will from a classroom.	Requires a good teacher - for on the job training to succeed, you don’t just need an experienced employee, you also need one that can teach. A new worker may struggle to learn if their superior isn’t experienced in teaching. Accidents more likely - some more technical jobs can be dangerous without proper training. Important notes could be missed unless carefully taught in a classroom environment.

 

What is off the job training?

Off the job training, is when a new worker is taken away from their place of work and trained off site. This could be provided at a college or university, or a local training centre provided by the employer. This is usually done one day a week, multiple days in a row every few weeks, after work or a few other ways. All of which involve stopping your work and traveling offsite to improve your skills.

 

Pros and cons of off the job training

Benefits

Drawbacks

Avoid mistakes - off the job training will allow for safety training to be completed before starting the job, rather than on the job. This means accidents are less likely to happen which can be crucial in potentially dangerous working environments. Better understanding of the job - more complicated jobs may require an extra level of understanding in order to complete them effectively. Without this, employees could be left without confidence in what they’re doing which is bad for productivity.

Can be ineffective - sometimes people are just better at learning through practical work and may gain very little from a classroom environment. Inconveniencing and less productive - one of the main drawbacks is that it can require travel to a college or offsite training centre which many simply will want to avoid. It can also mean less productivity as onsite working is replaced with offsite training.

 

Which is better?

As with both methods of training, each come with their own benefits and drawbacks and each can be argued to be the ‘better’ method. Really, it comes down to the type of role you need training for; more complex jobs or dangerous jobs will likely require a higher level of understanding and training that just can’t be achieved on the job. However, the jobs that are relatively simple to pick up can be quickly learned to a high skill level through on the job training and don’t require any classroom work.

 

Employment with Prestige Recruitment

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Posted: Sun 15 Sep 2019