Whether they’re driven by a passion for learning and growth or a desire to make a lasting impact on companies or employees, many professionals aspire to break into learning and development (L&D). In this column, I will highlight some of the more common backgrounds that lead to L&D and the areas of development that learners from each path should focus on.

The Education Pathway

One of the most direct routes to an L&D career involves earning a graduate degree in a related discipline (e.g., adult education, training and development, instructional design). Our research at Training Industry reveals that upwards of 40% of the professionals that fill many L&D job roles hold a graduate degree, including 55% of chief learning officers (CLOs), 44% of training directors, 51% of training managers, 43% of learning consultants and 47% of content developers. This is unsurprising: Graduates of these programs are equipped with theoretical knowledge, research skills and an academic appreciation of pedagogical principles, preparing them to design effective training programs, analyze learning needs and implement strategies that enhance organizational learning.

For professionals with this background, a critical focus for your development is that of business acumen. A graduate degree offers a great foundation, but a deep understanding of the organizational and industry contexts you’ll be working in is essential to thriving in these roles.

The Experience Pathway

Another common route to this field involves leveraging previous experience in educational settings, whether in K-12 schools or post-secondary institutions. Professionals with a background in teaching or educational administration have developed relevant and transferable skills that will facilitate a career in L&D. Their firsthand experience in the classroom or educational leadership positions equips them with an understanding of learning methodologies and the ability to tailor training programs to diverse audiences.

However, individuals with this background often worry about how to best communicate their transferrable skills to hiring managers. If you are entering L&D from this background, you have an opportunity to immerse yourself in the language of L&D. Consume as much content as you can to develop the language to talk about your past experiences in a way that relates to the key requirements of training and development roles.

The Subject Matter Expertise Pathway

For those who have subject matter expertise in critical operational areas, a transition into L&D can also be a natural progression. These individuals, often recognized for their exceptional performance in their respective fields, bring a wealth of practical knowledge to the table. Their journey into L&D involves translating their operational excellence into effective training programs, instructional materials and performance improvement initiatives.

If you are entering the L&D field from this background, acquire knowledge of L&D processes and principles to understand how a training function operates and what resources are available in your role.

The Management Pathway

Another path to L&D begins with managerial roles in other corporate functions. Managers responsible for overseeing teams and driving operational success develop a unique set of leadership and organizational skills. Transitioning into L&D allows them to apply these skills to employee development, build strong learning cultures and align training with business goals. Similar to SMEs, if you’ve come to L&D from this background, you must do your homework to understand your training toolkit, L&D strategy and the training processes you’ll manage.

The L&D Career Journey

The journey into a career in L&D can be diverse; whether you come into the field through academic pursuits, previous experience in education, subject matter expertise or managerial roles outside of the training department, you have the opportunity to carve your own path by showcasing your transferable skills and addressing gaps in your current skill set. As the demand for skilled L&D professionals continues to grow, the L&D profession will continue to represent a melting pot of varied and diverse experiences.