The Training Dept. Video Series (pro not consumer): http://www.trainingdept.com

CEDIA EST Bootcamp: [Link: cedia.net]

Residential Integrator School: [Link: connecthome.com]

Looking for training options for new-hires. Any input on these programs? Any other options?

Thanks for your time!

78 views and NO opinions? :-)

Actually, I think you picked 3 of the best. The training dept. videos are excellent, but I'm wondering how well it sticks if you 're not doing something hands-on.

Good Point Julie.

From a financial perspective, the videos make sense (one time $800 for unlimited use vs ~$1500 per including travel).

So I can assume by the lack of responses that either:

1. Nobody has any experiences with these particular training programs
2. People have experiences with these programs, but their opinions were so tepid as to not motivate a response
3. People have no experiences with trinaing programs for their new hires at all...

Assuming 1 - What are people doing, if anything other than on-the-job experience, to train their new hires?

Assuming 2 - IF all these programs are so mediocre, would you say one is any better than another (for a full service CI firm)? Which is best or worth the effort?

Assuming 3 - Will you please tell me where your geography is so I can investigate future expansion plans? ;-)

I bought 2 dvd's last year. The training department's "wiring your home for distributed audio and video" and wiring your home for voice, data, and broadband rf network. Their good learning tools, however they only really scratch the surface. Not real detailed. They are good introductory video's. To be honest, I am more of a hands on type of person myself. Never have been able to learn much from just reading about something. (except on this site) LOL.. They were really inexpensive. I paid 29.95 each for them...

There is also Labor Saving Devices. They sell some (aging) videos that give very usefull info.
Just for the record, when I was setting up the training for my company my co-worker and I ended up creating almost everything from scratch. We've had something like 500 installers go through the program this year and had excellent results. It helps that this is my full time job, but don't discount your own ability to create content.

There are also some useful text books out there - the HTI+ Certification Concepts and Practice book from Marcraft is fantastic as is the EST series from Pearson/Prentice Hall, although both spend a little too much time on security which may or may not interest you - and you can also download a lot of really good white papers off of the net.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff! I appreciate the feedback.

So far, I'm leaning to a combination of the HTI+/CEDIA textbook and CEDIA's bootcamp.