The greatest asset of any organization is its employees. Businesses can survive and flourish only with the help of a dedicated workforce. Human resources (HR) is the backbone of a company’s workforce. It is a specialized team that recruits skilled personnel, provides adequate training, and ensures their growth in the organizational setting. HR training helps upskill employees to widen their horizons. Here are some common types of HR training programs one should know about.

In-house vs. external HR training
HR training may be broadly bifurcated into in-house and external, based on who conducts the sessions:

In-house training
It involves training programs conducted within an organization by its HR department. In-house training sessions are conducted either for specific teams or the company at large. For example, HR professionals may conduct soft skills and safety training sessions, which are typically common across all teams. On the other hand, senior managers of particular teams may train their team members on the technical aspects of the job.

External training
Here, the HR team invites external trainers or experts to train employees on specific aspects. These experts may be freelancers or full-time trainers. They typically use innovative ways to impart specific knowledge and skills to workers.

Types of HR training programs
HR training can be further classified into different types based on the kind of knowledge imparted or skills taught:

Skills training
It helps employees learn basic and advanced skills necessary to fulfill job responsibilities. For example, a customer care executive may be taught communication and listening skills to interact with customers politely and answer their queries effectively. On the other hand, a digital marketing executive requires training in handling different social media platforms effectively and targeting the right audience.

Soft skills training
This training helps develop specific aspects of one’s personality. It focuses on personal skills like problem-solving, creative thinking, listening, emotional intelligence, communication, and teamwork. Such skills help employees become more competent and collaborate with teammates more effectively. Soft skills training may also motivate team members and teach ethical values.

Technical training
Technical training imparts technical knowledge and teaches workers to leverage software systems relevant to their job profile. For example, sales employees may be taught to optimally use customer relationship management systems (CRMs) to enhance customer relations and increase turnover. In contrast, a cashier at a restaurant should understand the workings of point-of-sale (POS) systems. Technical training is usually provided to beginners but may be extended to others after software system upgrades.

Quality training
Quality training enables employees to identify and avoid practices that can lower the quality of their output. Quality may be measured using various criteria, including those set by organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Quality training aims to ensure continued customer satisfaction and meet consumer needs optimally with superior-quality products and services.

Team training
It involves group exercises that teach the importance of working as a team. Team training may inculcate essential organizational and interpersonal skills, such as communication, listening, cohesiveness, accountability, problem-solving, and motivation. It may also serve as an ice-breaker and provide workers with an opportunity to know each other better. While team training sessions are often organized in-house, they may be hosted by an expert from outside the organization.

Managerial training
Those with sufficient experience and expertise in their respective fields might think they are ready to be promoted to a managerial position. However, eligibility for such roles demands more. One also needs interpersonal and leadership skills to guide a team and ensure effective fulfillment of objectives. For this reason, organizations conduct managerial training to help potential managers gain the required skills to take on a managerial role. Some skills imparted in these sessions include delegation, empathy, and coaching. It may also teach one to be more accommodating and provide constructive feedback.

Professional training
Professional training helps one stay updated with developments in their fields and brush up on the skills they have already learned. For example, lawyers may require professional training to stay up to date with changing laws and new reforms. Similarly, doctors may need to be trained on the latest interventions and the health conditions they can be prescribed for.

Safety training
This type of training is essential to ensure employee safety at the workplace. Safety at work should always be the first priority for organizations; hence, safety training is often mandatory at offices to help employees understand and prevent work hazards and gain the required assistance in case of mishaps. Safe use of equipment, first aid information, food service safety, fire drills, and awareness of asbestos hazards are some topics covered in safety training sessions.

Today, many teams and employees work remotely. Consequently, online HR training is gaining popularity in many organizations. Employees interact with each other over video calls and acquire new knowledge and skills from the comforts of their homes.