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2026 On the Job Training: OJT Meaning, Advantages & Types

Imed Bouchrika, Phd

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

On-the-job training programs (OJT) strengthen your skills in preparation for the job role. For fresh graduates, OJT programs are a ticket to gaining work experience. But there is more to OJT.

Your academic background aside, a specific job role has its unique dynamics, requirements and workflows. An OJT training program weans you onto the job’s dynamics and workflows and, broadly, the company culture.

Essentially, an on-the-job training program bridges the gap between academia and industry. The two sectors operate on different planes, as theory and practice often do not meet at eye level.

OJT applies nearly to all disciplines across degree levels. Whether you have an administrative associate degree, a bachelor’s degree in fashion or a master’s in data science, going through an OJT is an essential process to help you succeed in your job.

What is OJT for students? The goal is to enable students to get a hang of OJT as early as possible and grab opportunities as they come. This way, they can boost their employability and put in place a professional “safety net" for after graduation.

To shed critical light on this matter, this article reveals all the intricate details about this vital OJT process. It discusses the definition, types, importance, and benefits of OJT training for students.

On the Job Training Table of Contents

  1. What is On The Job Training?
  2. Types of On The Job Training
  3. What Can You Learn from OJT?
  4. Benefits of On The Job Training
  5. Which Additional Certifications Can Enhance Your OJT Experience?
  6. Challenges Faced During On the Job Training
  7. How Can You Choose the Right On-the-Job Training Program?
  8. How Can Short-Term Academic Programs Enhance Your On-The-Job Training Experience?
  9. How Can Fast Online Credentials Enhance Your OJT Journey?
  10. How Are Digital Advancements Transforming On-The-Job Training?
  11. On the Job Training Tips
  12. What Are the Financial Implications of Supplementary Education After OJT?
  13. Career Pathways to Explore After On the Job Training

What is On The Job Training? 

First things first, what is the meaning of OJT for students? The on the job training definition is a hands-on method of imparting the vital knowledge, skills, and competencies required for employees to accomplish specific tasks within the workplace. According to Garavan et al., on the job training represents a set of processes that happen within a specific organizational context and involve assimilating and acquiring integrated clusters of values, skills, knowledge, and feelings that lead to fundamental changes in behaviors of a worker or teams (Nakahara & Matsuo, 2013).

As a training program for students, OJT is designed to immerse learners in work environments relevant to their area of study in an attempt to learn knowledge on, productivity in, and respect for the workplace. Beyond helping students apply the principles, ideas, and theories learned in the classroom, it enables them to level up their technical skills, knowledge, and attitude towards work (Career, n.d). This way, it enables students to gain work experience and in most cases (6 out of 10), it converts into full-time employment (Adams, 2012). This is backed by recent studies showing that 56.1% of interns get converted into employees (NACE, 2019).

One intriguing fact to note, however, is that various terms are used across the globe for on the job training for students (e.g. apprenticeship, internships, and placements), and are not always clearly defined (Mulder, Messmann, & Konig, 2015). As a result, the terms may differ in the purpose and intent of the training, legal status, and obligation of the trainee involved.

Types of On The Job Training

On the job training is an active employment policy measure aimed at increasing employability and competitiveness in the labor markets. But, since employability is a complex concept that blends multiple aspects such as motivation, knowledge, skills, and attitudes (CRELL, 2012), students can approach OJT in a number of ways.

The most common methods of on the job training for students include:

  • Internship. An internship is a form of on the job training designed for college students who want to gain real-world expertise to enhance knowledge acquired in the classroom. Generally, this is a short-term or part-time work experience (paid or unpaid) that helps students gain practical and technical skills in their industry or positions. An internship is almost expected for any graduate seeking employment.
  • Apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a paid, on the job training opportunity for young professionals to get a foot in the door of a skilled craft/trade or ascend the professional qualification ladder. Unlike internships, apprenticeships are not networking or resume-building opportunities. They are structured programs that offer students a formal way to gain skills on the career path they wish to follow. Apprenticeships combine on the job training with classroom learning and take an average of 3-4 years to complete. They are mainstays in industries such as carpentry, construction, plumbing, and electrical.
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  • Cooperative work experience. This is another intriguing type of on the job training where students balance classroom theory with structured periods of practical, hands-on work experience prior to graduation to gain valuable experience in their field of study. Like internships, cooperative work experience is an integral part of a program of study, particularly a certificate and associate degree.
  • Credit for prior learning (CPL). Also known as Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), this is a form of work-based learning used across states in the U.S. The program works best for college students who want to earn credits for classes and activities done outside the formal college settings. It decreases remediation and can reduce the time until graduation by 2.5 to 10.1 months (Lumina Foundation for Education, 2010).
  • Entrepreneurship. This is the most extreme form of on the job training, where a student starts a business to learn key skills and competencies on the fly. As a result of running the business, a graduate learns how to manage cash flow, employees, inventory, and marketing, and negotiating with customers and suppliers.
  • Other forms of on the job training for students include job shadowing and service-learning.

What Can You Learn from OJT?

Put simply, students who undertake an on the job training program learn practical skills and procedures for their position or industry. But beyond this, there is a whole continuum of things for students to learn. They include:

  • General workplace standards
  • Professional norms such as workplace dress code, productivity expectations, company hierarchy, and industry jargon.
  • Networking and professional coworkers relationships.
  • Gain relevant soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, work ethics, adaptability, communication, and time management.

Benefits of On The Job Training

The importance of OJT can be gleaned from the fact that in a modern workplace, on the job training is a highly effective policy tool used to shape the skills of the existing employees and attune them to the specific needs of the firm (Almeida & Faria). For students, however, OJT is heralded as a rare opportunity to find a firm grip on the industry or role they wish to pursue.

It gives students the first real taste of work without throwing them into the deep end straight away. And, when utilized properly, it delivers a host of benefits. Among them are the following:

It develops and fine-tunes skills

On the job training comes at a time when students are at the bottom of the career ladder. Even though they have amassed valuable theoretical knowledge at this point, they are still rough gems that need polishing to fit into the fast-paced work environment.

During the on the job training,  trainees learn by observing, asking questions, and taking measured risks to make the most of the opportunity. Additionally, they receive constructive criticism from the supervisor and coworkers. The feedback helps them learn more about their strengths and weaknesses, embrace their mistakes, and gain relevant skills from distinguished professionals in the industry. They develop efficiency in the way an artificial intelligence business name generator quickly accounts for many relevant factors before producing desirable outcomes.

Moreover, an on the job trainee masters professional skills such as teamwork, time management, communication, and adaptability. These are some of the most sought after soft skills, and acquiring them gives the trainee an edge in the job market. Actually, 57% of industry leaders say soft skills are more important than hard skills (Petrone, 2018).

It builds industry knowledge

Building industry knowledge epitomizes the ultimate goal of taking internships. The hands-on work experience interns garner during the OJT is simply invaluable and cannot be earned in a classroom setting.

Generally, trainees get the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in school in a real work environment. They witness, firsthand, the day-to-day duties they will encounter in a real-world setting. Even more, taking part in team meetings, completing minor tasks, and collaborating with coworkers exposes students to how things work in a chosen fieldwork.

This helps build relevant industry knowledge and enables students to learn the roles and responsibilities of a specific position or career. Ultimately, this closes the experience gap and smoothens the transition into the workforce.

It expands one’s professional network

In the highly competitive job market, connecting with individuals who are already established in a specific field can supercharge your career growth. Unfortunately, many graduates emerge from school with little to show in terms of the professional network. As such, on the job training is usually the first real opportunity to meet others in the career field you want to pursue.

The professionals you meet during the OJT may be the most valuable stepping stone to a future job. They may recommend you for open roles, and as you already know, recommendations make the most successful job searching strategies. In addition, the people in your field may be a great source of advice and can help make informed decisions about your career.

It provides financial compensation

In some cases, a student may be lucky enough to land an internship that offers some form of compensation. Meaning, you will gain valuable work experience and, at the same time, make money. Financial compensation is usually a timely boost for cash strapped students and it helps cover college tuition and expenses. In the case where the training takes place after graduation, it helps students start employment life on the right footing.

It improves job outlook

Even better, students who successfully complete on the job training and make a favorable impression are viewed as attractive talents to employers. This is primarily because such students possess excellent soft skills, have exemplary work habits, and demonstrate higher industry and technical skills. Moreover, they are well-versed with general workplace standards and professional norms in their respective fields.

For this reason, many employers in the world prefer to hire junior employees who have completed on the job training. To suffice, in 2019 alone, 56% of interns and 40% of co-op students were hired on a full-time, entry-level basis (NACE, 2020). Even if an offer is not put on the table right away, down the line, it will not take long for an opportunity to come up.

References:

  • Almeida, R. K., & Faria, M. L. (2014). The wage returns to on-the-job training: evidence from matched employer-employee data. IZA Journal of Labor and Development, Discussion Paper No. 8314. IZA
  • Career (n.d). Ensuring Effective On The Job Training. Manila, Philippines: Department of Labor and Employment.
  • CRELL (2012, May 15). Benchmarking employability of young graduates. EU Science Hub.
  • Expatrio (n.d). German dual apprenticeship system. Expatrio.com.
  • Garrouste, C., & Rodrigues, M. (2012). The Employability of Young Graduates in Europe. Brussels, Belgium: European Commission.
  • Lumina Foundation for Education (2010, March). Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success. Indianapolis, IN: The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.
  • McKinsey (2009). The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in America’s Schools. New York, NY: McKinsey & Company.
  • Mulder, R. H., Messmann, G., Konig, C. (2015). Vocational education and training: researching the relationship between school and work. European Journal of Education, 50 (4), 497-512. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12147
  • NACE (2019). NACE 2019 Internship & Co-op Survey Report. Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers.
  • NACE (2020). Job Outlook for the Class of 2020. Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers.
  • Pastore, F., & Pompili, M. (2020). Assessing the impact of off- and on-the-job training on employment outcomes. A counterfactual evaluation of the PIPOL program. Evaluation Review, Online ahead of print.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X20966112
  • Petrone, P. (2018, January 2). The skills companies need most in 2018 and the courses to get them. LinkedIn.

Other Things You Should Know About On the Job Training

What is On-the-Job Training (OJT) for students?

On-the-Job Training (OJT) is a hands-on method where students acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies to perform specific tasks within a workplace. It aims to immerse learners in relevant work environments to apply classroom principles and gain practical experience.

When is the best time for students to participate in OJT?

The best time for students to engage in OJT is towards the end of their academic journey, close to or immediately after graduation. This timing maximizes the effectiveness of the training as it serves as a direct springboard into their careers.

What are the different types of OJT available for students?

Common types of OJT include internships, apprenticeships, cooperative work experiences, credit for prior learning (CPL), and entrepreneurship. Each type offers different structures and focuses on various aspects of professional development.

Who conducts OJT programs?

OJT programs are primarily conducted by on-site supervisors who assign roles, supervise trainees, and evaluate their performance. Faculty practicum coordinators oversee the overall implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program.

What can students learn from participating in OJT?

Students can learn practical skills and procedures specific to their job or industry, general workplace standards, professional norms, networking, and essential soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and time management.

What are the benefits of completing an OJT program?

Benefits of OJT include developing and fine-tuning skills, building industry knowledge, expanding professional networks, gaining financial compensation, and improving job prospects by making students more attractive to employers.

How can students make the most of their OJT experience?

Students can maximize their OJT experience by quickly adapting to the workplace, abiding by the code of conduct, maintaining professionalism, staying organized, being observant, managing time wisely, and cultivating healthy relationships with coworkers.

Why is professional networking important during OJT?

Professional networking during OJT is crucial as it connects students with established professionals who can provide career guidance, recommend job opportunities, and offer valuable industry insights, significantly boosting career growth.

Do all OJT programs offer financial compensation?

Not all OJT programs offer financial compensation. However, some internships and apprenticeships do provide stipends or salaries, which can help students cover educational expenses and ease their transition into the workforce.

What impact does OJT have on future employment opportunities?

OJT significantly enhances future employment opportunities by providing practical experience, improving industry knowledge, and developing essential skills. Many employers prefer hiring candidates who have completed OJT, making them more competitive in the job market.

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