When you want to land your first corporate instructional design and online learning developer job, there are several options for programs that want to help you get there. To help you research the options available and make a decision based on the requirements you need, I’ve created a table. Before I share the table, I want to share the job application assets and skills you need before you even start to apply. This way, you’ll know what you should look for in a program before you enroll.

1. EXPERIENCE. You’ll need experience in instructional design. I know this gets really frustrating for many who want to transition into this career field because they ask, “how can I get experience if they won’t hire someone without experience?” And while there are several workaround answers to this question, the fact remains that you can’t get around the requirement for experience. Does the program add to the experience section on your resume?
2. Job...

Published: January 16, 2020

Episode: 17

IDOL Hiring Manager Elizabeth Pehlke Shares How to Land a Job

Guest:Elizabeth Pehlke, Learning and Instructional  Designer

In this episode, I’ll be chatting with Elizabeth Pehlke. Elizabeth was a hiring manager at Pearson and she was hiring between 10-20 instructional designers a year. She shares her best interview, resume, and application tips for those looking to land their first or next instructional design job. 

If you are a new listener to Become an IDOL, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In this episode we discuss:

• Resumes
• Hiring process
• interviews 
• Best practices and tips for new instructional designers

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Published: July 30, 2019

Episode: 10

Instructional Design Jargon Defined with Rachel Hudish

Guest: Rachel Hudish

In this episode, I’ll be chatting with Rachel Hudish about the jargon and industry terms that are used in instructional design. We’ll be sharing stories, analogies, and definitions to illuminate the meaning of each word.

If you are a new listener to Become an IDOL, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In this episode we discuss:

WBT, CBT, eLearning, Online Learning, mobile learning

Authoring tools: Software used to package multimedia for delivery online. Adobe Captivate and Articulate Storyline are examples of authoring tools

508-compliance: An amendment to the US Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is a federal law that requires all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible...

Published: July 15, 2019

Episode: 09

eLearning Community Project with Dana Kocalis

Guest: Dana Kocalis

In this episode, I’ll be chatting with the LinkedIn famous Dana Kocalis about her journey to become an IDOL and the eLearning community project she led and learned from last year. Dana is the owner of eLearning by Dana and a regular LinkedIn conversation starter. Last year we met when she started the eLearning Community project by posting on LinkedIn.

If you are a new listener to Become an IDOL, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In this episode we discuss:

• How Dana and I met on LinkedIn
• How Dana landed her first ID job before she had an ID degree
• The eLCP (eLearning Community Project) vision and outcome
• Lessons learned by Dana after attempting to get 80 newbie and expert instructional designers together to build one eLearning course together.

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Published: July 1, 2019

Episode: 08

From Valet to a Six-Figure Instructional Designer

Guest: Cameron Brown

In this episode, I’ll be chatting with Cameron Brown who is an instructional designer for Cox Enterprise. I am Cameron’s mentor and I helped him become an IDOL. You won’t believe his story.  It’s amazing to see how far he has come and where he came from.

If you are a new listener to Become an IDOL, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In this episode we discuss:

• How Cameron and I met at Shorter University
• How Cameron went from a valet who parks cars to a six-figure instructional designer
• Cameron's advice for anyone who wants to become an IDOL
• Mentorship and how it was crucial in Cameron's development and successful career

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Published: May 13, 2019

Episode: 05

Become an IDOL without a Degree or Experience: One Former Teacher’s Story

Guest: Tommy Sealock, Net Cracker

In this episode of Become an IDOL, I’ll be chatting with Tommy Sealock about how his background in education proved to be a vital stepping stone into transitioning to Instructional Design.

 If you are a new listener to Become an IDOL, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In this episode we discuss:

• How his experiences as an educator translated into training for instructional design
• What to look for in a mentor relationship
• The one offering tool to focus on when you’re just starting out to avoid overwhelm
• What hiring managers are really looking for when hiring new instructional designers
• How to use lesson plans to learn instructional design & beef up your portfolio
• Challenges of adult learners versus teaching children

Transcription of  Become an IDOL without...