I currently deliver technical training for the IS department and have an opportunity to move to an HR training role. I enjoy technical training and learning new software quite a bit. However, I feel I could grow and try new things with HR training. By HR training I mean non-technical skills and behavior training.

I'm also looking for a solid and more lucrative career path; and although I will always have work as a technical trainer/writer I feel that I can go "higher" in my career on the HR training side.

What are your opinions? Should I leave the technical training behind?

Thanks in advance!

I have done both IT and soft skills training. Personally, I prefer soft skills. I can be a lot more creative in how I facilitate the training. That being said, I find that IT trainers make more than soft skills trainers. I believe that organizations value it more because it directly impacts job performance. I do not agree. From my experience, you can have an employee who knows technology inside and out, but they have horrible people skills. No one wants to work with them as a result. They definitely need training.

Unless you are out on your own as an independent trainer, IT training pays more than soft skills. It also depends on what technology you are teaching. I find that PeopleSoft trainers can make a lot of money.

Just my thoughts! I love soft skills training though. You get some great stories from participants. You always learn something new.

I'm currently struggling through a similar experience. I have done technical training since 1995 and even gone through the ranks of developing courses, courseware (nothing online yet), technical support and straight tech writing. But I'm currently in a position where I'm ONLY identified by the technical training, not the potential for "less technical" or even outright soft skill training oppportunities.

I agree that the HR side of the house is more creative but I wouldn't lose that inner techie. The true innovations lie in the incorporation of the technology with the business workflow and process improvement.

Hope this helps!

Goose,

I would stay with technical training if it were me. There is a vast difference between participants attitudes regarding the training and that makes a world of difference when it comes to your own job satisfaction. Technical employees appreciate the training, see the need for it, and understand what they are gaining from it. They're much easier to work with as a group. Many participants of soft skills training do not necessarily want to be there. I don't think you will find it nearly as rewarding as the technical training. I've been on both sides since my background is in both engineering and psychology.

There is also the issue of whether you can succeed better as a trainer from within HR, or closer to the business or technical unit. You will maintain much more control of what you do if you stay away from HR. And HR training just does not carry the same level of credibility with participants that you enjoy as a technical trainer now. Let's face it, in many organizations, HR is not too highly regarded when it comes to providing anything of real value. That said, I can understand that you might like to break into something new. It wouldn't hurt to experiment if you want. Just make sure you can go back if you want to.

As for as being more lucrative, I think technical training is where the bucks are - especially if you have the technical background.