College Experiences That Helped A Lead Learning And Development Consultant At Roc Search Succeed
Chelsea, a Lead Learning & Development Consultant, emphasizes the importance of internships for undergraduates exploring this field, stating, "doing as many internships as you can just to get exposure to the different industries." The most insightful advice offered is to identify the desired impact and industry before seeking a corporate training role, building credibility through prior experience in that field; "the more experience you have within… the industry… that's gonna support your credibility in being able to train it."
Career Exploration, Internships, Industry Experience, Training and Development, Corporate Training
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Chelsea Tate
Lead Learning & Development Consultant
Roc Search
University of California, Santa Barbara
NA
International Relations & Affairs, Political Science, American Studies
Recruitment, HR & Related Professional Services, Technology
Education
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Complete internships to gain industry exposure and determine career fit.
2. Align training focus with your experience and desired impact; credibility matters.
3. Consider the type of corporation and industry you want to work in and tailor your experience accordingly
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I think while students are in college, they should do as many internships as possible to get exposure to different industries. That was really helpful for me, and I have a lot of implicit bias towards it.
Internships were the way I supported navigating whether my chosen career path was right for me. When I was a political science major, I worked for a congressman to see if I liked the ins and outs of that industry and the people in it.
The good parts were finding people I could vibe with. I just didn't like the lawyer part.
Looking at potentially getting into a learning and development field, I would first consider what kind of impact you want to have and what you want to be training. For me, I train recruitment and sales because I have an extensive sales background.
If someone is looking to get specifically into a corporate training role, consider what kind of corporation you want to work for and then work backward from there. We found that the more experience you have within the industry you're looking to get into, the more it supports your credibility in being able to train it.
I would have had a much harder time getting buy-in from recruiters with five-plus years of experience if I didn't already have a background of success in recruitment. So, get out there, try different things, expose yourself to internships, and focus on whether you can see yourself in that field. That's what really helped me navigate my career path.