Introduction:
If someone has told you you’re great at explaining things, or you’re thinking about making the jump from teaching or another field into corporate training, this post is for you. In the video above, I walk through four tips to help you get the ball rolling, plus some honest advice on how to actually land a job in today’s market. Everything I mention is linked below, so you don’t even have to break out your notepad.
Pro Tip #1: Get Involved in L&D Organizations
These organizations are great for both networking and learning the industry. Most of them are free to start with and offer a variety of paid services and resources as well.
- ATD — Association for Talent Development — A global organization with hundreds of local chapters. I personally sit on the board of my local chapter. Whether you follow them on social media or become a paid member, there’s something here for everyone.
- CIPD — Chartered Institute of Personnel Development — If you’re based in the UK or Europe, this is the ATD equivalent and your best starting point.
- The Learning Guild — Strong global presence, especially for those interested in the design and technology side of L&D.
- Training Industry — Another solid resource with a strong US presence and global reach.
Pro Tip #2: Become Part of Various Communities
Beyond formal organizations, there are some great communities worth plugging into. They are a great way to network, get to know people, and find support.
- Hero Hangout with Kassy Laborie — Kassy does a fantastic job creating a space for virtual facilitation and learning professionals.
- Learning, Education and Training Professionals Group — An active LinkedIn group worth joining.
- The L&D Academy Community — Another solid community with free resources and peer support.
- Our own 👉 Corporate Training Companion Community — My own community, where we come together for free workshops, share resources, and support each other’s career development.
Pro Tip #3: Subscribe to Newsletters
Fast, free, and easy. A few I’d recommend:
- The Learning Brief — From L&D Shakers
- L&D Roundup — By EDU Fellowship
- Our own 👉 The Monthly Debrief — My own monthly newsletter where I share industry news and a roundup of my latest videos, articles, and free resources
Pro Tip #4: Proactively Educate Yourself About Corporate Training
There’s no shortage of ways to learn more about the field before you’re in it.
Start with conversations with AI tools — you won’t get the day-to-day texture of the job, but it’s a solid starting point. YouTube channels like Spark + Connect are also worth exploring. And honestly, just subscribing to channels like mine and watching consistently will get you further than you’d think.
How to Actually Get Hired
Once you’ve started building your network and learning the landscape, it’s time to apply. A few things worth knowing about the current market:
Leverage your network first. Recruiters and hiring managers are getting buried in AI-generated applications. The strongest move right now is asking people in your network for warm introductions — to training leaders, to open roles, or even to teams before a position officially opens. Real relationships cut through the noise.
Don’t spam your resume. Recruiting software like Greenhouse already flags candidates who apply to too many roles as spam. More applications is not always better.
Do your research before applying. Look for genuine company fit — do their values show up in how leaders actually behave, not just on a website? Do you believe in the product or service? That fit matters more than most people give it credit for.
Want to Go Deeper?
I offer a free one-hour course that covers everything from how L&D organizations are structured, to reading job descriptions, to how to handle the “you need experience to get experience” problem.
Take the free course here →
Final Thoughts:
If you’re just getting started in corporate training, the most important thing is to stop waiting until you feel ready and start putting yourself in the right rooms. The networks, communities, and resources above exist specifically for people at this stage — use them. The people who land these roles aren’t necessarily the most qualified; they’re the most connected and the most prepared.
