When people think of vocational trainers, they often imagine someone standing at the front of a room, clicking through PowerPoint slides and handing out assessments. Easy, right?
OH. SO. Wrong.
Being a trainer in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) world is so much more than just delivering content. Because at the end of the day – the students can just read the slides themselves!
It’s a full-body, full-heart, all-in kind of job – *spoiler alert* – and the skills that make a great trainer don’t come in a box with your TAE certificate.
Yes, you need the qualification. Yes, you need industry currency. But the real magic? That’s in those soft skills.
So… what does it actually take to be a VET trainer?
Join me and we’ll dive into the real work behind the job – and why it’s one of the most rewarding roles you’ll ever step into.
👩🎓 It always starts with a conversation about PD…
At least it did for me.
It started with – Hey Sammie, have you ever thought of being a trainer?
Well, No. I have not – but now I am. 🤔 I wonder what that would take…?
Turns out – it took 18 Saturdays of my life. From 9am till about 4pm. About 130 hours. Little did I know that it would genuinely change my life. I met some amazing humans who want to teach some really incredible things – like science and first aid!!
So… Maybe you are doing your TAE course because you want to teach teenagers about food… – which by the way Nay, you are gonna be amazing girl! – or maybe you want to share your knowledge with the next generation of gaming nerds… Dave – I see you 🧐
I just want you to know – you are going to love being a trainer. You are going to get to wow your students and it all comes down to the energy that you put into your classes!
If you’ve been following along – we did talk a little about what if anyone could train anyone… but this time, let’s actually talk about the skills that you don’t learn in your TAE. The soft skills… the ones you might have to actually think about and work on. Regularly.
🎤 Public Speaking That Is About Connecting (Not Just Projecting)
Let’s start with the obvious: VET trainers talk. A lot.
But it’s not just about being loud or confident. It’s about knowing how to speak in a way that makes people want to listen – and understand. That’s a skill. One I am still learning!
I remember my very first class. I was so nervous and I read directly from my notes, like a robot. I swear at least one student actually fell asleep. At least in my brain, there were – for sure – snoring behind those muted microphones…
I felt like I wanted to crawl under the desk and never come out.
Great public speaking in VET isn’t about being perfect – it’s about being present.
Look – I’m not going to pretend that your first few classes are gonna be perfect… That share sound button is gonna get you every time… but it’s important to remember that, over time, these things will become second nature to you.
💡 These are some things that I found helped me – but your results may vary:
- Practice talking to groups (even small ones) – Join a committee, even if it’s just to plant trees once a year. It’s great practice to get over your fear of speaking to groups.
- Use your voice with purpose – slow down, warm up, add energy. Get excited to be there!
- Use break out rooms and call on your students – Make the learning fun and give them a chance to show you they understand the concepts you are teaching them.
- Stumbling over your words? Think of every word that comes out of your mouth as subtitle. Trust me.
- Share stories and examples from your own career experience – everyone loves to know the tea.
- Speak like a human, not a textbook. If your student
But I didn’t give up. I learned to pause. To look people in the eye. To tell stories instead of just spitting facts. And guess what? Over time, students started leaning in. Laughing. Using Reacts. Asking questions in the chat.
🎯 Facilitation That Feels Natural
Facilitation is where the real teaching happens.
It’s the skill of guiding a discussion, reading the room, asking the right questions, and knowing when to step in – or step back. It’s what makes your class feel more like a conversation than a lecture.
Good facilitators make learning feel easy – even when the topic is hard.
One of my favourite moments in class was when a quiet student suddenly opened up about how her part-time job helped her understand customer service. The chat lit up with similar stories. I was able to read each one out. Students actually contributed. I didn’t plan that activity, but I facilitated it. And it worked.
Facilitation is all about sparking the right kind of energy in your classroom. One way to do that is by asking open-ended questions that invite discussion. Instead of asking, “Do you understand?” try asking, “How would you handle this situation at work?” It gets people thinking and talking. Activities and real-world scenarios are gold here – they help students connect what they’re learning to their own experiences, which makes it stick. In the brain hole.
Flexibility is your best friend. If something’s not landing, don’t be afraid to pivot.
Read the room and follow the energy!
Some of my best sessions happened when I let go of the lesson plan and leaned into what the class needed in the moment. And always, always create a safe space.
When learners feel respected and heard, they’re more likely to speak up, share, and truly engage with the material. That’s when real learning happens.
🤝 Conflict Resolution with Calm and Care
Ah yes – conflict. It happens when you are teaching fully grown humans, with perhaps not-so-fully-grown feelings.
Humans are gonna do human things. With human feels.
Maybe it’s a disagreement in a group activity… Maybe a student’s upset over a result… Maybe someone walks in with a bad attitude and tension follows them like a cloud. wooooo-scary cloud noises-oooooo
As a trainer, you are the calm in the storm. And it’s your ability to manage conflict without escalating that’s gonna be one of your most important soft skills. Squishy. Like the feels.
I once had two students argue loudly over who was doing more work in a group task. Who was contributing more? Who had the better idea? Instead of jumping in and fixing it, I gave them space to share their thoughts and feelings… helped reframe their perspectives, and set clear steps forward.
The result? A calmer class – and two students who learned something valuable about teamwork.
Conflict doesn’t make you a bad trainer but avoiding it completely might.
- Stay calm – your energy sets the tone: If you stay calm, others are more likely to follow. When emotions run high, your steady presence can be the anchor that brings the class back to centre.
- Listen first, don’t jump to conclusions: It’s easy to assume, but taking the time to hear everyone out shows respect and usually reveals what’s really going on. Often, just being heard is enough to de-escalate a situation.
- Set ground rules early (and stick to them): A few clear expectations at the start of a course can prevent a lot of trouble later. Be consistent and fair – students feel safer when they know what the boundaries are.
- Practice empathy – it goes a long way: Everyone has off days. A little kindness and understanding can turn a difficult moment into a teachable one – and help build trust in the process.
💡 Emotional Intelligence for Managing Humans
This might be the softest of the soft skills – but it’s also the strongest.
Emotional intelligence is your ability to understand your own emotions, read other people’s emotions, and use that awareness to guide your decisions. In a classroom, it’s pure gold.
High EQ helps you respond to what your students need – not just what’s on the plan.
Have you ever walked into class and just known something was off? Maybe the students were quiet, distant, or distracted. That’s your EQ kicking in. Great trainers don’t push through like nothing’s wrong – they adjust.
One morning, I sensed my class was completely flat. No one laughed at my usual jokes. So I asked: “Are we all feeling a bit low today?” Turns out several students were dealing with work stress. We shifted into a short check-in activity, and the energy totally changed.
🧘♂️ Take time for yourself too!
- Reflect on how you feel after each session. Be critical. What could you have done better?
- Learn to read body language and non-verbal cues. Are the vibes off?
- Ask students how they’re doing – not just academically. Let then share their lives with you!
- Be kind to yourself – you can’t pour from an empty cup! Self-care is important.
🛠️ Adaptability in the Moment
The best laid lesson plans… often go sideways. Off a cliff. In bear season.
Sometimes the Wi-Fi crashes. Sometimes a student says, “This makes no sense,” and you realise you need to teach the whole unit a different way. Sometimes a guest speaker doesn’t show up… but not me… I always show up!
Sometimes a fire drill interrupts your assessment. Adaptability isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a must.
Being adaptable shows your students that you’re human – and that learning can happen anywhere.
I once had an entire lesson wiped out because of an unexpected blackout. Instead of panicking, we took the class outside and role-played various customer complaints in the sunshine. Was it in the plan? Nope. Was it memorable? Absolutely.
🤚 This is a DnD game and your students will go on an adventure.
- Always have a backup activity
- Get comfortable with teaching on the fly.
- Take feedback and use it to pivot
- Let go of perfection – it’s not the goal!
❤️ Passion That’s Real (and a Bit Contagious)
Students know when you care.
They can feel it in how you greet them. In how you explain things. How you smile and dance around when they finally get it. Passion can’t be faked – and it’s one of the best teaching tools you have.
Being a trainer is hard work. But it’s also heart work. The kind of work that fills you up, even when you’re tired. The kind that reminds you that what you do matters.
Passion is what turns trainers into mentors – and learners into leaders.
One of my proudest moments was seeing a student who started the year full of self-doubt strut confidently into her new job after graduating. I love seeing where my students go, because I am just a little part of their journey. And I hope that I made a different in their lives. Even if it was just one unit.
Celebrate your students’ wins – every single one. Whether it’s someone nailing a tough assessment or just showing up on a hard day, those moments matter. Recognition builds confidence and shows your students that you’re paying attention. And while you’re supporting them, don’t forget about your own growth! Keep learning in your field. When you stay curious and up to date, your energy stays fresh – and your students can feel that.
Share what lights you up! When you talk about your passions, your students are more likely to lean in and get excited too. Let them see that you love what you do. It’s contagious in the best way. When you bring real joy into the classroom, it creates a space where learning feels fun, inspiring, and full of possibilities.
📣 Final Call for your Thoughts 💬
So, what does it really take to be a Vocational Education Trainer?
It takes skill, sure. But more than that, it takes heart. It takes listening. Adapting. Communicating. It takes showing up—not just as a teacher, but as a guide, a coach, a support person, and sometimes… just a really good listener.
You don’t have to be perfect to be a great trainer. But you do need to be real. Students don’t expect you to know everything. They just want to know that you’re in their corner.
So, whether you’re just starting out or deep into your career, ask yourself:
👉 Which of these soft skills do I already have – and which ones can I grow?
Drop a comment and tell me – What soft skill changed your training journey?
Let’s talk! 💬👇
Till next time.