Buying training: questions to ask a provider before you sign

Most training proposals look similar on paper. These questions surface the differences that matter.

About the design

• What will people be able to do by the end that they can’t do now? A clear answer means the course was built around outcomes. A vague one means it was built around a topic.
• How much of the day is hands-on? You want more time with participants working than watching.
• Can we use our own work as the material? Real files and processes beat generic exercises every time.

About delivery

• What’s the maximum class size? For skills that need coaching, smaller is better. Be wary of “unlimited”.
• Who is the actual trainer, and what’s their background? Sales and delivery are sometimes different people.
• Physical, virtual, or both — and what changes between them?

About what happens after

• What do participants take away? Cheat sheet, templates, a recording of the fiddly bits.
• Is there any follow-up included? A check-in a couple of weeks later is a strong signal.
• How will we know it worked? A provider confident in their outcomes will suggest a way to measure them.

About the admin

• Will you help with the HRD Corp grant application? They should provide a proper quote and outline for it.
• What happens if we need to reschedule?

If a provider gives crisp answers to most of these, they’ve thought about outcomes. If they keep returning to the syllabus, that’s what you’ll get.