How to get into technical training career (biotech field)

September 27, 2013 10:53 AM

I want to quickly transition from a researcher/scientist with pharma development experience to a person doing technical training work. I have a passion to teach others, enable others. I feel very fulfilled when I see/hear people learn new things, overcome inhibition, be more creative. Dear fellow Metfilters, can you help me do this career change?

I see that pharmaceutical companies are hiring technical training and training specialist.
here is a few lines of skills needed:
>Advanced experience in instructional design, development, delivery and measurement for adult learning with past experience in e-learning course development
>Understanding of learning principles/methodologies and application in a complex business environment. Includes experience using a training design/development process, i.e., ADDIE or equivalent...

I just started to network with people. I have the option of taking classes. I live in the bay area. There's berkeley extension offering classes. What and How many classes I need to take? How hard just to directly apply technical training jobs without prior experience but with research, conference presentation experience and publication? Is it important to know LMS (learning management system)?

Obviously, I am at the beginning stage of figuring out things. so any tips will be helpful.

posted by akomom to Work & Money (3 answers total)

My friend does this - she was a researcher and had taught at the graduate level, and her supervisor passed a recommendation along since a friend of his had a software company. They taught her the material, and she traveled teaching it to others. For technical, I wouldn't say taking teaching classes is important, but being a technical person who has had some teaching experience would be enough to start.

So I'd re-write my resume to focus on my technical knowledge and my teaching experience, and then go out there and network network network. It's helpful if your current technical knowledge reflects what you'd be teaching. And if that still didn't come out then maybe I would consider taking more classes about curiculum design etc. Or do both at the same time.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:06 AM on September 27, 2013

Might be worth your while to join ASTD. I am not too active in my chapter, but I do know that they have a lot of train-the-trainer workshops and networking events (at least in my area; I imagine the Bay area has plenty going on).
posted by medeine at 11:23 AM on September 27, 2013

thanks medeine about ASTD. I found their local chapter. That is a great networking opportunity. I will check it out.
posted by akomom at 4:41 PM on September 27, 2013