We live in a world of products. Every day, someone creates something that solves a new problem, changing the ways of life. But, we often find ourselves struggling to get used to these products.
Getting product-savvy isn't always easy, but the good news is that we have Product trainers to save the day!
A product trainer creates training content modules to help users navigate and get used to products. It is one of the most crucial jobs in a product cycle, but not many people know about it.
To let you in on the experiences of being a product trainer, we are
In conversation with Ranvijay Tewatia, Assistant Manager-Product training at Naukri. Read on as he spills the beans on his career journey, experience as a trainer, advice for freshers, and much more.
1. Please take us through your journey so far- how long have you been working in this field, what have you been up to, and how did you get here?
I have had a pretty crazy journey. I chose Humanities in the 12th grade despite everyone suggesting I opt for science, as it "opens up many doors". But I never got that and chose otherwise. I pursued Geography Honors briefly but soon realized that I did not want to build a career around it.
Hospitality Management got my interest, and I enrolled in Amity University, as it offered the option to learn about all branches of Hospitality Management- the best decision I ever made.
After exploring several opportunities, like being in the organizing team of concerts for artists like Martin Garrix, Dead Mouse, and Hardwell, I realized I love talking to new people and wanted to work in a field where I could network, and communicate with people.
I spoke to my father about this, who suggested I try a career in customer-facing roles. The field gets a lot of unnecessary flak, but the truth is that you can get so much learning, exposure, and field experience here. I thought- Why not? Let's do this!
I found my next job in the retail sector and got hired at Tommy Hilfiger as a Sales representative. Six months later, I set out to find the next best opportunity and got to dabble in real estate. I explored Hospitality Management some more and took up the opportunity to work in a few Airbnb properties in Goa.
In short, I explored the hotel, retail, travel, and tourism industry before finally landing my current job with Naukri. It was the big break I was seeking.
Today, I am a product trainer at Naukri, and I am also completing my certification. My experience has been unique, and I believe this extensive journey has led me to this point.
2. How did you get into training, and how has the experience been?
I got a call from Naukri and thought I must give it a shot! I remember HR asking me what profiles I wanted to apply for, and I said, “All of them!”
It was pretty crazy. I came across the training role and instantly knew this was it! It meant meeting lots of people and helping them navigate through the product.
In my three years with Naukri, I have trained about 3000 companies and interacted with several people, from entry-level freshers to mid-level managers and senior leadership.
Getting good numbers and being a top performer is great, but it is truly rewarding when someone I trained appreciates my work.
Knowing I could connect with the client, add value to their experience, and make them feel valued means a lot to me. So, yes, it has been a beautiful journey so far!
3. Tell us more about what you do as a product trainer at Naukri
I provide training to recruiters and talent acquisition representatives. These sessions are for clients new to the product and existing clients who have been using our products but need a refresher course or want to learn more about updates and services.
The main job is to explain the recruitment solutions like ResDex and job postings in detail, which requires constant learning and staying up-to-date with all updates and features.
Another aspect is connecting with clients before and after the training sessions, understanding their expectations from the session, reinforcing the concepts, and explaining the product thoroughly while building rapport.
We also train internal teams and departments on products.
4. How is a trainer different from a facilitator?
Awareness about training as a profession is scarce. People don’t even know the difference between a facilitator and a trainer, but let me make it simple with an example- A teacher is both a trainer and a facilitator.
They facilitate and let you handle things and also have to guide and train their students.
But a trainer does not facilitate sessions. My job is to train our clients on our products, data, and usage in a way that helps them navigate through our product and have a seamless experience.
5. Do you need any certifications to become a trainer?
To become a trainer, you must earn certification from ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) or ISTD, its Indian equivalent.
All trainers need to have an ISTD certification- which holds a lot of weightage.
6. What was the big break in your career that changed your life?
In terms of ideas, the big break was when I started working with Tommy Hilfiger, and before that, it was a concert that I helped organize. Both these experiences helped me realize my interests and passion.
But things started looking up once I became a Naukri trainer. I got exposure which helped me come into my own. So, that was the big break!
I also realized that people think Naukri is a big name and it adds to your value, which it does. But at the end of the day, it is up to you to make it or break it.
7. Can you recall any interview experience that has stayed with you?
After having worked in hotels, retail, and real estate, I went for an interview where the CEO of a company asked me a very genuine question. His concern was that I had switched multiple fields, and he wanted to know why I was transitioning so often.
I told him I wanted to venture into customer support and that product and service may vary, but the job is the same! I could utilize my skills and experience, irrespective of the industry!
He (kind of) got my point and agreed that it made sense- until he asked me the same question again- Why are you switching from the Hotel industry?
Anyway, in the end, I got hired!It was a desk job, a huge upgrade from my previous jobs where I was constantly on foot! I spent two amazing years there and left with some good experiences and friends.
8. What are the three most crucial takeaways of the training process?
There are a lot of things, but the most crucial aspects of the training process have to be:
- Connecting with clients and building rapport as it helps me identify their needs and provide training session that caters to them
- Staying up to date with all our products and services to make sessions informative and answer client queries
- Clear communication skills. The mistake many people make is speaking with an accent or mispronouncing words. This makes understanding these sessions unnecessarily hard and does not help the client.
9. What do you like and dislike about being a trainer?
The first thing I like about being a trainer is that I get to interact with many people, and I love it. I am blessed to be able to connect with people from different walks of life and be able to add some value to their work. So, that is number one.
The second thing I like is the freedom to choose content and the flexibility to deliver it per my wish.
Third, I like being a trainer at Naukri because of the work culture. There is a sense of freedom, and everyone works very hard while ensuring a warm and relaxed environment in the office.
As for dislikes, they are only two-
There is a sense of quantity above quality in training. The sessions are recurring, and I deliver about 100 training sessions in a month, so it gets monotonous sometimes.
The second is that there is a limit to learning. Sure, change is happening, and we have new features and upgrades to improve the recruiter experience. But, it is pretty much the same thing.
10. Your advice for people aspiring to become a trainer?
First and most importantly, establish a good command on your language. During my training sessions, I try to break the words and enunciate them as clearly as possible to ensure I'm easy to understand.
Many people try to take the other route and speak with an accent that sounds more sophisticated, but in my experience, it rarely works. Remember the 7Cs of Communication and choose the right words.
Also, people have a short attention span which is a big hurdle in making a training session effective. Abrupt, boring, poorly worded, incomprehensible training content and delivery will lose your client’s attention in a snap of the fingers. So, keep your content relevant, concise, and clear.
These are the most crucial things anyone pursuing a trainer role must remember.
11. Do you have a success mantra?
Yes, I follow a few success mantras. But the one I believe in the most is that honesty goes a long way. I truly think that honesty is crucial in all professions and life!
Secondly, be true to yourself. If you have a unique quality, make it your strength. Often, people do not realize their worth, leading to extremely qualified people settling for stagnant roles for which they are over-qualified.
So, explore, learn about yourself, and use your strengths well. In short, know who you are and be yourself! Adapt, but do not change!
Third, Make your bed every morning. It makes so much sense. You leave with a relaxed mind and come home to a clean space which is heavenly, especially after a chaotic day. Coming home to a clean bed helps you relax and leave all your messes outside too!
