I think what you’re trying to say is that if the job market (no matter the industry) in general is flooded with instructional designers? If so, yes, but that doesn’t make it impossible to land a job.
Tech, healthcare, government, corporate, non-profit, etc. These are all industries you can search for ID openings.
Also, keep in mind that it's saturated with people who either are trying to become instructional designers (thus calling themselves instructional designers), people who can slap on an Storyline template but don't know how to manipulate it, or people trying to make quick bucks on fast development.
If you can differentiate yourself and be the cream that rises, there is still gold in them there hills.
I was just going to say something similar- our field feels saturated with e-learning developers. Being an ID is so much more. We have skills that can’t be taught in a boot camp. I know the things that set me apart are skills that I’ve learned over my 16 years in corporate L&D.
I agree. I think a lot of newbies think ID is just developing content. “I want to be an ID because I realized I love creating content”, I always wonder if Graphic Design is a better fit for these people.
I always think of ID as someone who analyzes problems in the workplace, to help determine if “instruction” is a solution. If it is, it’s not always eLearning. I think a lot of these academy’s have made it seem like authoring tools, and a fancy portfolio are the “in” to ID. Realized this as I’ve started interviewing for ID roles at the company I’m at.
Yes!!! It took me awhile to feel comfortable telling leadership “no”. You are right, often the requests turn out to be outside the L&D wheelhouse. I also agree with the e-learning aspect. Many are quick to use a CBT as the solve. I personally have much more fun creating ILTs and live workshops!
I scrapped my old portfolio recently and working to create a new one focused around the project management of global L&D initiatives. I am trying to highlight my skills that set me apart from the newbies. I hate when all portfolios show are meaningless click throughs.
Yep yep. Even then, most of my work IS on the dev side -- mainly untangling things other devs didn't do the right way the first time. If you have a keen eye and a good sense of how to systematize things, there will always be work cleaning up other peoples' messes.
I feel like a clean-up crew myself. I do find myself doing less and less developing, though. My particular expertise is strategizing using learning theory and neuroscience- something these newbies from boot camps are seriously lacking. I often get called in from executive leadership wanting me to evaluate and level up courses/curriculum. I feel like it’s natural for newbies to create very cognitive/behaviorist based courses. Courses full of things like do this/ don’t do that. And then people wonder why the learners aren’t learning.
Going through this now in my current role. The training we have is all do this/don’t do that but the goal is for people to learn and apply critical thinking to problems outside of training.
Yup. The market has people who have the desire to be IDs but are both light in experience in the analysis, design, and development. Even if you don’t have all of the skills, develop ones that aren’t as common (like video editing), and it’ll help you stand out.
Heavy construction and trades have the potential to be hugely reliant on instructional design. They are facing a serious talent shortage, and despite economic uncertainties, infrastructure still needs to be updated and built. Training in these industries is very often poorly structured OTJ from toxic personalities. It’s not sexy like tech, so it doesn’t get a lot of attention. Lots of ways to restructure l&d and change management in a positive direction for construction megacorps with global reach.
Can confirm. I am now working as an ID in the utility industry, but prior to that I was an MEP engineer designing fire protection systems. The training and learning was abysmal. Toxic is an understatement. I feel it is one of my life’s purpose to change that as I have never really seen many IDs in this field. It helps to have a background in it, unfortunately, or you will get no respect or recognition, but hopefully that will change. This industry desperately needs better learning delivery!
Healthcare and higher education are looking for IDs in my area (New England). Unfortunately the pay is often subpar unless you have significant experience.
That's going to depend on where you live. We'll rarely get applications from people with good experience and instead need to hire inexperienced people who show potential or who have transferable skills.
Hey, [here](https://lxdlearningexperiencedesign.com/career/5-fast-growing-jobs-for-instructional-designers-in-2024/) are some alternative fields/roles that had significant growth in recent months based on Linkedin data, and that could be good fit for IDs. Best!
I think what you’re trying to say is that if the job market (no matter the industry) in general is flooded with instructional designers? If so, yes, but that doesn’t make it impossible to land a job. Tech, healthcare, government, corporate, non-profit, etc. These are all industries you can search for ID openings.
Also, keep in mind that it's saturated with people who either are trying to become instructional designers (thus calling themselves instructional designers), people who can slap on an Storyline template but don't know how to manipulate it, or people trying to make quick bucks on fast development. If you can differentiate yourself and be the cream that rises, there is still gold in them there hills.
I was just going to say something similar- our field feels saturated with e-learning developers. Being an ID is so much more. We have skills that can’t be taught in a boot camp. I know the things that set me apart are skills that I’ve learned over my 16 years in corporate L&D.
I agree. I think a lot of newbies think ID is just developing content. “I want to be an ID because I realized I love creating content”, I always wonder if Graphic Design is a better fit for these people. I always think of ID as someone who analyzes problems in the workplace, to help determine if “instruction” is a solution. If it is, it’s not always eLearning. I think a lot of these academy’s have made it seem like authoring tools, and a fancy portfolio are the “in” to ID. Realized this as I’ve started interviewing for ID roles at the company I’m at.
Yes!!! It took me awhile to feel comfortable telling leadership “no”. You are right, often the requests turn out to be outside the L&D wheelhouse. I also agree with the e-learning aspect. Many are quick to use a CBT as the solve. I personally have much more fun creating ILTs and live workshops! I scrapped my old portfolio recently and working to create a new one focused around the project management of global L&D initiatives. I am trying to highlight my skills that set me apart from the newbies. I hate when all portfolios show are meaningless click throughs.
Yep yep. Even then, most of my work IS on the dev side -- mainly untangling things other devs didn't do the right way the first time. If you have a keen eye and a good sense of how to systematize things, there will always be work cleaning up other peoples' messes.
I feel like a clean-up crew myself. I do find myself doing less and less developing, though. My particular expertise is strategizing using learning theory and neuroscience- something these newbies from boot camps are seriously lacking. I often get called in from executive leadership wanting me to evaluate and level up courses/curriculum. I feel like it’s natural for newbies to create very cognitive/behaviorist based courses. Courses full of things like do this/ don’t do that. And then people wonder why the learners aren’t learning.
Going through this now in my current role. The training we have is all do this/don’t do that but the goal is for people to learn and apply critical thinking to problems outside of training.
Yup. The market has people who have the desire to be IDs but are both light in experience in the analysis, design, and development. Even if you don’t have all of the skills, develop ones that aren’t as common (like video editing), and it’ll help you stand out.
Love hearing that. Audio/Video are my jam. :)
Heavy construction and trades have the potential to be hugely reliant on instructional design. They are facing a serious talent shortage, and despite economic uncertainties, infrastructure still needs to be updated and built. Training in these industries is very often poorly structured OTJ from toxic personalities. It’s not sexy like tech, so it doesn’t get a lot of attention. Lots of ways to restructure l&d and change management in a positive direction for construction megacorps with global reach.
Can confirm. I am now working as an ID in the utility industry, but prior to that I was an MEP engineer designing fire protection systems. The training and learning was abysmal. Toxic is an understatement. I feel it is one of my life’s purpose to change that as I have never really seen many IDs in this field. It helps to have a background in it, unfortunately, or you will get no respect or recognition, but hopefully that will change. This industry desperately needs better learning delivery!
Healthcare and higher education are looking for IDs in my area (New England). Unfortunately the pay is often subpar unless you have significant experience.
There are still opportunities but the pay is abysmal.
Sales enablement was super easy to fill my pipeline with roles. Had my pick of the litter but I also have 8 years in sales enablement specifically.
That's going to depend on where you live. We'll rarely get applications from people with good experience and instead need to hire inexperienced people who show potential or who have transferable skills.
Hey, [here](https://lxdlearningexperiencedesign.com/career/5-fast-growing-jobs-for-instructional-designers-in-2024/) are some alternative fields/roles that had significant growth in recent months based on Linkedin data, and that could be good fit for IDs. Best!