Gaining Skills in the Workplace

A variety of approaches can help you learn new skills in real work settings.
Ask your employment counselor about opportunities that might be fit for you.

On-The-Job (OJT) Training

In an OJT, an employer receives funding in exchange for teaching you specific job skills in the workplace, typically for up to three months.

Paid Work Experience (PWE)

By participating in a PWE, you can build your resume, try out a new employment field, and/or learn new skills while receiving wages.

Internships

Internships (or practicums) provide professional learning experiences typically related to your academic field of study.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are industry-driven career pathways, and information about Colorado’s options can be found at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Youth-focused apprenticeships through CareerWise Colorado offer work-based learning to go along with academic lessons with employers in the community. Apprenticeships help businesses develop highly-skilled employees and allows career seekers to earn while they learn.

JFK Partner Logo

The Colorado Office of Employment First sits under JFK Partners, the state’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, a program of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Its creation was envisioned by Colorado Employment First Advisory Partnership (EFAP), a multi-state agency and stakeholder-led collaborative, and was made possible, in part, by funding from the Colorado Legislature and generously matched through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE).

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