How do you choose the best training for your employees?

Employee training is an essential element in a company's development and success. It contributes to employee satisfaction, motivation and loyalty. But it's hard to find your way through the "jungle" of training courses on offer... Which organization? What format and duration? And for what budget? Discover our 4 tips for identifying the best program for your employees.

Employee training: a performance driver for companies

Employee training offers numerous advantages for both employees and the company.

For employees:

• Skills development (versatility)
• Improved productivity at work
• Increased satisfaction and motivation

With access to training, employees feel valued and supported by their employer. What's more, ongoing training enhances their employability. In the event of a change of company, they have updated their skills.

On the company side:

• Employee loyalty
• Improved competitiveness
• Improved employer brand

An employer who invests in training is perceived as caring about the well-being and fulfillment of its employees. By regularly training its employees, the company remains competitive on the market, as it is able to innovate and adapt to technological and economic developments.

GOOD TO KNOW
For the company, it is essential to capitalize on the investment and set up training agreements over several years. This guarantees a long-term impact.

Tip 1: Identify your employees' training needs

Here are the steps you need to take to understand your employees' needs:

Assess existing skills & gaps

Analyze your employees' current skills and identify those that require improvement or further development. You can do this through individual interviews, performance appraisals or self-assessments.

Identify the new skills required by the company

In other words, what are the key skills? Take into account technological developments and market trends to determine them. This will enable you to anticipate training needs and ensure your company's long-term viability.

Take into account employees' career objectives

When identifying training needs, don't forget to consider your employees' career aspirations. This will further motivate them and help them develop the skills they need to progress within the company.

Tip 2: Choose the right training for your employees

There are several criteria to consider:

Relevance

Make sure that training meets identified needs and is adapted to employees' skill levels.

Cost of training

Evaluate the cost of training in relation to your budget and expected benefits. Don't forget to take into account indirect costs, such as working time "lost" during training.

Format

Whether face-to-face, distance learning, e-learning or blended learning, choose the format best suited to the needs of your employees and your organization.

Program quality

Search for information on the training organization's reputation, the certifications offered and the experience of the trainers. You can also consult online reviews or ask for references from other companies to ensure the quality of the training. Find out more about the differences between professional and continuing education programs.

Program duration

Check that the duration is compatible with the company's busy schedule. Training that's too long can lead to additional costs and lower productivity, while training that's too short may not be sufficiently in-depth.

Need to find out more? Discover our guide to choosing the right continuing education program.

Tip 3: Measure return on investment before and after training

To assess training effectiveness, it's important to establish clear objectives for the training: what are you looking for? What's important to you at the end of the course?

Here are some indicators you can use:

Program's return on investment (ROI)

Evaluate the ratio between the benefits obtained through training (increased productivity, reduced errors, etc.) and the costs incurred (training costs, "lost" working time, etc.).

Percentage of employees having received training opportunities

Measure your company's commitment to training by tracking the percentage of employees who have taken part in a training program over a given period. 

Evolution of the number of internal vacancies

Analyze your company's ability to promote internal employees and fill vacancies through training.

Turnover monitoring

Monitor your company's turnover rate. A low rate may indicate that employees are satisfied and loyal thanks to the training offered.

GOOD TO KNOW
To measure the benefits of training, remember to evaluate the skills and knowledge acquired as a result of training (test, feedback from line manager). Observe changes in behavior: does the employee apply what he or she has learned?

Tip 4: Identify the right training organization

To find continuing education institutes, you can consult training directories such as orientation.ch or https://www.formationcontinue.swiss/. Not all institutes are created equal, so be sure to search carefully 😊

Don't hesitate to activate word-of-mouth, recommendations and use feedback from employees who have already attended training courses.

To find out more, check out our comprehensive guide to continuing education qualifications recognized in Switzerland.