Finding a new job can seem like a catch-22. You could be a great fit for the position, but you need to have direct industry experience to get the job. The main problem? There’s no way to get the direct industry experience without getting the job and learning how to master its necessary skills. So, how do we untangle this catch-22?

Apprenticeship is one solution that is making a difference for many who are looking to enter a new high-skilled career, and FASTPORT joined with over 250 other industry and workforce leaders to help support the apprenticeship mission and community in a kick-off to National Apprenticeship Week.

Innovators and leaders from the work-based learning community—such as keynote speaker Governor John Hickenlooper, whose leadership in Colorado is helping establish 20,000 apprentices by 2026—were publicly honored for their work. Honorees included:

• Amazon

• Apprenticeship Carolina

• Aon

• Carroll County (GA)

• Chamber of Commerce

• CVS Health

• District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund

• FASTPORT

• Guilford Apprenticeship Partners

• The Hartford

• North America’s Building Trades Unions

• National Association of State and Territorial Apprenticeship Directors

• Vice Media LLC

• Robert Lerman

• U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship

• Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP/BIG STEP)

• Wireless Industry Association

• Zurich Insurance North America

FASTPORT and Amazon were honored in the same category as companies “Serving Veterans with Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning.

“We could not be more honored to work alongside such esteemed companies and, of course, with Veterans who are ready to start their next career in the civilian world,” said FASTPORT President Brad Bentley who accepted the award on behalf of FASTPORT at the event. “We will continue to work hard for our nation’s heroes and provide more apprenticeship opportunities so they can earn while they learn in their transition from service.”

Jobs for the Future organized the event to celebrate the history and boost the momentum of the expanding movement to support apprenticeship and other forms of work-based learning as mainstream workforce development and talent solutions for American businesses. That expansion took form in three parts:

• Celebrate the past, present and future of apprenticeships and work-based learning
• Recognize leaders in the field for expertise and best practices to support, advance and grow apprenticeships and work-based learning
• Explore opportunities to build the Center for Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning and corresponding network

To learn more about apprenticeships, check out transportationapprenticeships.org.