Make no mistake; interactive training has always been important for businesses looking to engage their new hires, particularly when it comes to creating memorable training programmes.
With traditional methods and classroom-based training solutions not viable for so many businesses around the world due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, however, much more attention is now being placed on virtual learning programmes and digital forms of training.
Classroom-based training has historically been favoured when creating an interactive training programme, as it gives new hires the opportunity to work together and familiarise themselves with their new environment and role with ease.
This is not to say, however, that fully digital training cannot match this level of interactivity, as long as it is implemented correctly.
To better understand how to create an interactive virtual programme, we need to understand precisely what interactive training is, and how it can be beneficial for employees.
What is interactive training?
Interactive training enables individuals to learn through actively engaging with the material that they have been given in an open and collaborative way. This allows people to explore the learning in greater detail, and to learn by doing.
How is interactive training beneficial for new hires?
We’ve previously discussed the various benefits associated with providing interactive training in banking, including:
- Improving learning retention
- Boosting confidence
- Encouraging teamwork and collaboration.
Integrating new hires and graduates into their new surroundings is crucial from day one. This can typically be challenging to achieve, and is now even more difficult considering that many new hires will be required to begin their careers working from home.
As a result of this, the majority of onboarding and introductory training programmes will take place on video conferencing software such as Zoom or WebEx, meaning it is critical for business leaders to perfect their virtual learning strategies as soon as possible.
When implemented correctly, virtual and e-learning programmes can prove to be more beneficial when compared to traditional methods, as well as being cost-effective.
In fact, SH!FT revealed that by using e-learning methods, participants can learn nearly five times more material without increasing the time spent in training.
Examples of interactive training methods that can be delivered virtually
In a highly regulated and competitive industry, it is critical that new hires in banking hit the ground running. The beauty of virtual training is that it is flexible in its delivery, meaning it can be adjusted to suit specific needs.
Whether it’s to improve credit skills, relationship management, commercial awareness of anything else related to financial services, there are ways in which to provide engaging courses, delivered virtually in a safe environment. Businesses should consider the following:
- Hosting and managing online discussions
- Virtual forum theatre workshops
- Virtual simulations
- Live, facilitator-led discussions
- Interactive PDFs and toolkits.
Our approach to interactive training for new hires in banking
At MDA Training, we specialise in creating and delivering interactive training programmes for the banking sector. Working with leading banks all over the world, we apply our blended approach of experiential learning activities, business simulations, virtual learning and digital methods to help make significant improvements.
These methods are proven to provide new recruits with a clear understanding of the bank’s products and services, its proposition to clients and the wider marketplace and industry.
Our programmes focus on areas including:
- Onboarding for banks
- Sales and relationship management skills
- Wealth management training
- New hires training
- Products and control training
- Compliance training
- Client centricity and customer-centric banking
- Credit skills training.
We ensure that our virtual programmes are as interactive and inclusive as possible with facilitator-led discussions and activities that are designed to improve learning retention and set up new hires to succeed.