Disappointing course - what now?

[thewomanwhoknewjustenough]

Let me preface the post by saying I have never lodged a formal complaint in my life and I'm unsure if that's the right course of action.

I recently attended a course (paid for by my employer) which involves completing a portfolio. It's very technical, involves the use of specific softwares and it's time consuming. It's delivered by an external provider.

The first trainer was uninspiring, read slides, didn't explain what he was projecting. He was then replaced by another trainer, who was quite good and clear but only attended for one day. The last day another new trainer was sent to complete the lectures.

On the last day, one of the provider's managers came on video to apologise about the delivery and offered extra sessions to catch up. There was a lot of complaining from the attending students and I decided to attend one day out of the ones offered.

I'm now going through the tasks and they are being sent back. What worries me is that the feedback I'm receiving is completely at odds with the information we received during the course. For example, the trainers said: ' X is a number and is black', but the portfolio marker says 'X is word and is white therefore your task is not correct'.

What do I do now? I already look like a tool to my employer for saying I needed to attend a top-up day, I'm now confused and have to clue how to approach the issue.

But surely if the course provision is inadequate the only sensible and responsible thing to do is feed this back to your employers - so they don’t go on wasting company money and employees’ time on something worthless?

Do you have a whatsapp group or anything with the other people in your course so you can establish if others have the same experience?

I suggest that you contact the person who come on and apologised about the delivery of the programme. Explain that the disjointed way that it has been delivered, which they have already accepted was unacceptable, now also appears to have been incorrect, and that it is making it difficult to complete the coursework because you have not been given an accurate foundation in the taught portion of the course.

I would also tell your employer that the course has been a complete shambles and that you would recommend that they found an alternative provider.

Did you not tell your employer why the "top up day" was being provided?

Thanks for the advice. I explained to my employer what happened and, whilst sympathetic, they want me to complete the course (which is understandable). They are not happy with the provider either.

@Catopia the others voiced their disappointment on the last day during the class, some were quite clearly upset. Most returned to the top-up session but others were working and couldn't attend.

I already look like a tool to my employer for saying I needed to attend a top-up day

Then I don't understand what you mean by this. The situation is because the course provider isn't up to scratch, why does that make you look like a tool?

You're struggling with the tasks for the same reason, aren't you? I can't see why you wouldn't be able to be open and honest with your employer about the continuing poor experience. They've paid for this so they need to know - especially as they presumably paid in the expectation you'd come away with skills or knowledge you haven't gained from this shoddy course.

I think you also need to make the point to the provider about the inconsistency and push back to them.

I'm not sure how else you could resolve it than to have those conversations.