How To Choose The Right eLearning Career Niche
eLearning is a competitive field that is growing rapidly. As a result, it is important for eLearning professionals to set themselves apart from the pack. The simplest way to do this is by carving out your own niche in the eLearning landscape. There are a lot of eLearning courses that focus on general content, and these are necessary for introductory learners. However, the more specialized knowledge often gets overlooked. This is where a lot of the opportunities are, and where you should focus your efforts. Here are 5 steps that you can take to determine which eLearning niche will work best for you.
1. Figure Out What You Know
Sit down with a blank sheet of paper and a pen. Write down what field you are in, and a few bullets about the most common topic areas within that field. Also write down any eLearning articles that you have published in that area, distinguished eLearning projects you have participated in, or any other field work that you have done. Try and break these down into knowledge areas. Are there big areas of overlap? Nuanced field knowledge that keep coming up again and again in your skills review? Write these at the top of your paper. They will help guide your work in the next few steps. If you find that you are having trouble with this skills assessment, talk to a friend or family member about your job. Explain what you do and how you do it, and the keywords will generally bubble up from there.
2. Sort Out Common Knowledge
Now that you have a list of content areas, figure out which elements are general knowledge and which ones are specialized. If you are not sure, you can always put those concepts into a “maybe” category and research them later. What you are looking for here is a list of areas where you can really contribute something new. Try and find new angles or areas of expertise you like most. This will become your territory, and help you to have a well-defined eLearning career niche.
3. Determine What You Enjoy
Now you are left with the specialty bits of knowledge. These nuances are what is going to set you apart from other eLearning professionals. While having a general foundation in the field is critical, knowledge beyond will ensure that you have an eLearning career for years to come. Think about what you enjoyed learning when you first started in the field. Were there any topics that cemented your love for the work that you do? Make sure you want to specialize in these areas. Make samples of your work and include them into your eLearning portfolio. Your excitement and enthusiasm for them will shine through, and will radiate to your online learners. Most clients prefer to hire an eLearning professional who is passionate about the field.
4. Test The Waters
Try injecting a bit of this niche into the sample eLearning courses you develop, or touch on the topic in your eLearning blogs, social media posts, or online discussions. See how potential clients react to the information and stay in touch with them. You should also do some research into other eLearning courses that are being taught in the field. This may give you ideas for future proposals to clients. Building this type of specialized eLearning content takes a lot of pre-work to get right. It is well worth it in the end, because you will be left with unique eLearning content that imparts information online learners won't find elsewhere. Another important aspect of testing the waters is to get client feedback. Find out what they're looking for in an eLearning professional and then compare and contrast their needs to your talents.
5. Create Your eLearning Career Niche Plan
Now that you have a pretty good idea of what eLearning career niche will work best for you, it is time to develop a plan about your next steps. Better yet, create a rough draft of a course catalog you can potentially use in the future. Include general knowledge too, but be sure to give interesting and detailed information on the particular niche you have chosen. Also, bear in mind that this plan must include the "business" side of things, such as marketing, budgeting, and creating your online portfolio to show off your expertise.
Carving out your space in the vast world of eLearning takes effort and skill. You need to constantly learn and revaluate your eLearning strategy based on client needs and the eLearning industry. However, this approach will help to set you apart from other eLearning professionals and give clients a reason to choose you above the rest. It's also important to develop high-quality eLearning content that is engaging and is of real value to the online learners in your eLearning course. Thus, you need to constantly hone your knowledge by staying up-to-date with latest eLearning trends and technologies in your eLearning career niche.
Are you looking for a comprehensive guide to get your eLearning career off to a successful start? Download our Free eBook How To Build A Successful eLearning Career for valuable tips and tricks!
