Training needs assessments can be as simple as asking an employee what they want to be able to do better or as complex as developing an individualized training plan for every employee.  Selecting the appropriate training needs assessment tools and approaches will help you create a superior workforce.

This training needs assessment will give you a quick appraisal of your employees’ training needs. It works best in small to mid-sized organizations and can help you find common training programs for your employees.

Please click here for the TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT survey.

Have employees return the survey by a certain date and give them the option to include their name and department. In addition to the survey questions, ask each person to list their specific training needs or wants, ranked in order of importance.

Surveys can be tallied and results used to determine the highest priorities for training programs.  Be sure to share the results of the survey with employees so they know their input will be considered. 

Training Meeting

Another method of needs assessment is to gather all employees who have the same job in a conference room with a white board or flip charts and markers. Brainstorm with employees about their most important training needs. Emphasize that employees should give examples of specific needs- communication or team building, how to give feedback to colleagues, or how to resolve conflicts for example.

Note the topics on a flipchart, avoiding duplicates. When all training needs have been listed, ask participants to vote on and prioritize the list of training needs by placing sticky dots on their top five topics. 

Take time, or schedule another session, to brainstorm the needed outcomes or goals from the top three to five training sessions identified by the voting process. As you seek and schedule training to meet employees' needs, use the roadmap created through the needs assessment process.

Make sure you follow through with the commitments generated by the training needs assessment process. Employees will expect to receive their key identified training sessions with the brainstormed objectives met.

Central Maine Community College can help you meet your organization’s employee development and workforce training needs.  Contact the Corporate & Community Services Department at 755-5282/1-800-891-2002 ext. 282  or email training@cmcc.edu.