How to Become a Trainee

It takes one year or less to become a trainee. That is the time it takes to learn specific trainee skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 4 to 6 years years to become a trainee.

Yes, manager trainees typically get paid. Manager trainees are usually pulled from the current pool of employees to be mentored and supervised by the manager or executives in a company.

The goal is to acquire all the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to become a manager. You might find yourself interning in different departments to learn about all the other parts of the company and how they come together to function as one.

The average manager trainee salary is $41,906 per year or $20.15 per hour. Depending on location, industry, and prior experience, manager trainees can make anywhere from $28,000 to $61,000. They tend to make the most in retail, manufacturing, and automotive companies. The top-paying states are Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

Yes, you get paid for being a trainee. As a trainee, you are considered an employee in training so you can get paid. However, that is contingent on the circumstances surrounding what you'll do within the workplace and whether there was a prior compensation agreement.

For example, most university graduate instructors will have contracts that explicitly express compensation for attending training.

From the U.S. Department of Labor on Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), what would make you not get paid is if all of the following criteria apply to you.

• The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to what would be given in vocational school

• The training is for the benefit of the trainees or students

• The trainees or students do not displace regular employees but work under close supervision

• The employer that provides the training receives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees or students and, on occasions, the employer may even impede his operations

• The trainees or students are not necessarily entitled to a job after the training period

• The employer and the trainees or students understand that the trainees or students are not allowed to pay wages for the time spent in training

Typically, if you fit these criteria, then you are not considered an employee.

Being a trainee, you work as an employee in training. Because you are to familiarize yourself with your role's best practices and procedures, you'll typically shadow a more experienced employee, who usually has a similar role as yours, to understand various tasks.

Additionally, you may take practical examinations to test your knowledge, learn the company's employee culture, and assist with customer inquiries.

As a trainee learning the ropes, it's essential to handle constructive criticism, be a team player and a fast learner. Usually, the faster you pick up your new responsibilities and duties, the sooner the training ends, although some companies may have set training times.

The cost of being a trainee varies. However, it typically costs the employers more than the trainee.

Employers face various factors when training new employees. According to Forbes, upfront costs like recruitment are just the beginning. Depending on how skilled the candidates are, the training period can be short or long, which drives up costs.

The cost to be a trainee may depend on your company and location. A trainee is typically paid during the training period but, depending on your prior agreement, you may be paid just the minimum wage until you start as an official employee. You don't necessarily pay into a trainee program. Instead, you may be affected by things like the cost of living, especially if you live in expensive areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York.

A trainee student is someone who is receiving formal training with a company while still attending school. Usually referred to as student trainees, they can still attend high school or post-secondary education while gaining experience. Sometimes, you are placed in the trainee program recognized by your school.

For example, according to Caterpillar's manufacturing company, students can become eligible at 16 years old with a 2.8 GPA or higher. They will be compensated with a competitive salary and also receive advantages of employee discounts. Although this trainee program has an end date, the company site states a high chance of student trainees continuing their careers, such as becoming interns.