Written by Jeff Dominique, FNT Fiber Network Training & Consulting

As a business owner, I have invested countless dollars in hiring a qualified Staff to represent our company. As many of you know, staff camaraderie is PRICELESS! Years ago I realized the financial impact of replacing a staff member and the numerous steps taken to bring a NEW employee up to speed. I knew right then, I would need to regularly invest in my staff as they have invested in my company.

“A recent survey indicates that 40 percent of employees who receive poor job training leave their positions within the first year. They cite the lack of skills training and development as the principal reason for moving on.” [1]

The fiber optic industry is continuously evolving, driven by customer’s demand for more speed, more bandwidth and more convenience. With this evolution comes the need for Training and installation in fiber optics that is far more sophisticated than ever before.

With the continued increase in technology, comes the necessity of staff training. Have you ever wondered how many business owners have lost a significant amount of contract revenue due to rework issues? Errors do occur, however, could it have been avoided? Or have you asked yourself the question, “Could it have been different if I would have invested in employee training?” To avoid future stress, I would have to find a way to make training part of my budget or reach out to my trusted training providers for discount options.

“If a football team, or a cricket team or a golfer dropped their level of performance, would they stop training? Of course not, they’d do the opposite.”[2]

If you are a seasoned fiber optic technician or business owner employing fiber techs and suddenly find yourself lost in the latest technologies, it’s probably time to return to training.

Trainers have access to so many valuable business and technical tools that are specifically geared toward making you more productive and increasing your bottom line. Think about it, if they don’t, they won’t be teaching long.

When you are searching for the right trainer to improve your bottom line, a few helpful suggestions or guidelines you may want to consider are:

1. Don’t rely on specific vendor or manufacturer’s training for general knowledge requirements. These trainers have ulterior motives to sell as many of their products to you as possible.
2. Choose a training company that has been around for several years.The longer they have been around, the better odds you will have in receiving quality and up-to-date training.
3. Choose a training company that researches the latest technologies and requirements in order to effectively convey these requirements to you and your staff. 32 years working in fiber optics and I still go to training as often as I can. Chances are, the instructor will be able to share something new:a technique that could save me hours in the field, introduction to new tools or even educate me on new Standards requirements.
4. Select training companies that offer an Industry recognizable certification. If their program is backed by someone like ETA, BICSI, FOA or ANSI, you can bet that you are going to receive Standards Compliant training that will serve you best in obtaining personal certifications.
5. Make sure that your trainer either offers the examination at their facility or can easily set up exams for you. Some trainers will even roll the examination fees and time to take the exams, right into your class structure to make it convenient for you. It is important to note that most certification boards require both written and practical (hands-on) examinations, conducted by a Certified Exam Administrator, so make sure your trainer selection offers both services.
6. Choose a trainer who is knowledgeable in all aspects of fiber optics as applications, uses and requirements vary from one industry to another. You want to ensure that your industry specific questions can be answered.
7. Choose a trainer that possesses private post-secondary or legitimate licensing from State or Federally Regulated Educational Agencies. Either will ensure that the training that you receive is programmatically sound and approved by a regulating authority.
8. If you don’t choose a local trainer, be sure your chosen trainer has knowledge of your region’s specifics, regarding Codes and Standards. Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is usually local code and therefore is the most important requirements to follow.
9. Choose a trainer that has a state-of-the-art, fixed training location, even if you want that trainer to come to your location. These are the trainers that are most experienced in setting up realistic training settings, no matter where they deliver the training.
10. Don’t let price be your deciding factor. It’s far more important that your technicians acquire the skills and certifications your business needs.

“WorkReady states, Training can improve business performance, profit and staff morale. Advantages to your business include:[3]

• you choose what new skills your workforce gains, targeting skills to meet the needs of your operation for now and in the future
• training your staff can result in better customer service, better work safety practices and productivity improvements
• you demonstrate to your workforce that you value them enough to invest in them, improving loyalty and staff retention. In turn, retention is a savings to you.”

Hopefully, these important tips outline the benefits of investing in training for yourself, your employees and your bottom line. If budgets are tight, FNT can work with you to develop custom certification courses that meet your specific needs and schedule. Contact FNT Training at 855-368-5855 to discuss your training needs or visit them on-line at www.FNTTraining.com. Expand your opportunities…Get certified to current industry standards today!

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[1] Copyright © 2015 go2 Tourism HR Society. All Rights Reserved. Republished under license. https://www.go2hr.ca/articles/employee-training-worth-investment
[2]Cutting the Cost of Training By Caroline Cooper, http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4047708.html
[3]http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/for-employers-business/training-your-staff/benefits-of-training-your-staff