E-Learning Design - How did you get started?

Hi Martin,

Welcome to the community! I suspect you're going to get a lot of responses on this question, and each story will be very different! I started my e-learning career while working in retail loss prevention (catching shoplifters) at Kohl's Department Stores. I always say that retail loss prevention is just one step above being a mall cop (and I've done that before too!).

Anyhow, one day I was given the opportunity to go to the corporate offices and develop training for the entire loss prevention division. That's when I was first introduced to Articulate Studio '09 and discovered that I had a talent for e-learning. The rest is history really.

I agree with Phil about getting some instructional design and F2F training experience. That will help a ton. Otherwise, you can go in a million different directions. In my experience, working for a corporate organization really helped me develop my project management and instructional design skills. I don't think I could have ever made the jump to freelancing without the 5 years I spent in the corporate world.

You have to figure out what works for you and follow your gut feelings. Figure out what your end goal is and take opportunities/make decisions that move you in that direction. And hey, you made you first post here - I'd say that a step in the right direction!

Best of luck!

Tim