Technical Instructor

Technical Instructor from Technical Worker or Military Veteran

If you're already an experienced, skilled technical worker from the corporate world or U.S. military and want to become a corporate technical instructor, you're halfway home. There many corporate technical training departments willing to take a chance on you. That's because, as previously indicated, technical experience is generally more important than teaching experience.

Still, first earning a "train-the-trainer" certificate might increase your chances. (However, if you were the civilian equivalent of a technical instructor in the military, you might not need a civilian certificate.) Some technical training departments will send you to train-the-trainer courses after hiring you. But, already possessing the certificate might be a plus, even if job ads don't say so. It shows that you have initiative and presentation skills, and saves employers the time and cost of helping you to learn how to instruct.

For example, you might consider earning the CTT+ certification by CompTIA. It's targeted to becoming a certified instructor at accepted industry standards. It also builds a solid foundation for higher-level, technical-instruction certifications, such as those by Microsoft and Novell, which might be among job requirements for certain technical instructor jobs. There are less-expensive and quicker alternatives, such as 3-day, train-the-trainer workshops. But, the CTT+ or an equivalent, formal certification is likely to be more prestigious and better recognized.

Regardless, up-to-date technical experience with product lines that are the same as or similar to those you'll be instructing might be required. But, if you're generally a sharp techie or a former military technical instructor, technical training departments might be willing to bring you "up to speed" on the product lines they teach, especially if they are unique or proprietary.

One of the best ways to change careers from technical worker to technical instructor, while earning at least your present pay, is to laterally transfer into the technical training department within the company for which you already work. Many a technical worker turned technical instructor got started this way.

Companies don't like to lose good workers, because it costs to screen and hire new ones. So, they'll typically accommodate those who wish to make lateral moves within. Once you've "paid your dues" as a technical instructor, doors will open at other companies.

If there's a technical training department where you work in a technical capacity or at a company up the street, be "nicely nosey" about becoming a technical instructor. For example, you might schedule informational interviews with the manager and a technical instructor or two. They might even let you sit in on a class or lab, so you can see what it's like. Your interest and initiative, along with your technical skills, might open the door to paying your dues as a technical instructor.