Employer-Based Training Programs For Your Career

Employer-Based Training Programs are exactly what they sound like: training done through an employer. Employers implement these programs to train their new or current hires for various reasons.

There are four main types of Employer-Based Trainings in Illinois. Read on for a quick rundown of each type.

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

OJT is a "hire first" program. This is unlike other programs where you complete the training first because with OJT, the employer hires you, then trains you. When employers do this, they enter an agreement to train and retain you as an employee. You will learn skills hands-on and get actual work experience while learning.

OJT is meant for companies that have low employee turnover rates. Also, both public and private companies may do OJT.

Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)

"Incumbent worker" is an interesting sounding phrase, but its meaning is actually simple. If you currently work for a company, you're an incumbent worker there.

The job market and its needs evolve over time. Unfortunately, this can lead to certain workers being no longer able to do their job. If a company's employees don't have up-to-date skills, it puts them at risk of layoffs or even closures. That is where IWT comes in.

In IWT, the employer trains their employees to keep their skills up-to-date, so they can continue to do their jobs. It opens them up to more opportunities, including higher pay and possible promotions.²

Class-Sized Training²

This type of training is aimed for employees who have lost their jobs and need skill updates to return to work. If you do this training, you'll take courses outside of a traditional school setting. It can use elements of OJT, as well as a combination of hands-on and classroom learning.

Customized Training

Sometimes you'll end up in a situation that none of the above types fully cover. For these "special cases," there's customized training. Customized training can use elements of other types such as OJT, but it's tailored to meet your employer's needs. It is usually meant for new hires, but in some cases, employers can use it to train their current employees as well.

Here are some examples of cases where custom training may be needed:

• The company is introducing new technologies.
• The company is introducing new methods or procedures.
• The company is upgrading new jobs that need new skills.

Finding Training

Today, Employer-Based Training Programs are happening across Illinois. Training employees after you hire them may seem backwards to employers, but that mentality is changing because employers are looking for opportunities to have great employees to grow their businesses.

Ultimately, it's the employer's decision to enroll you in such a program, not yours but it is a good idea to be informed about possible options. If you're applying to the company, it's a good idea to look for training info while doing your research. Look on the company's website to see if you can find anything. If that doesn't work, try Googling the company name followed by training. If you still don't have the info you were looking for, you could even set up an informational interview with the company.

If you already work at the company, you have the advantage of having your "foot in the door." If you're curious about IWT and customized programs, asking around might be a good idea.

Sources

²https://www.illinoisworknet.com/DownloadPrint/WorkforceTraining_Combined_FINAL.pdf