Employers
Grow your talent pipeline through high-quality work-based learning
Why should your organization participate in work-based learning activities?
- WBL programs create a larger pool of local skilled workers for your business. This lowers training costs and provides you with quality candidates.
- WBL experiences act like an extended interview. You are able to train and assess the learner. If you want to keep them on, you can hire them after the WBL experience. If not, there is no commitment after the experience wraps up.
- WBL ultimately lowers recruitment costs. It’s the best opportunity to market yourself to your future employees. Students learn what your organization is all about, and you get to show them why they want to work for you.
Curious about work-based learning in Montana? Explore the WBLC Data Dashboard to learn more about the demand for and impact of WBL in our state.
What We Do For You
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Conferences - 406 Transfusion: Injecting youth into the care continuum will be held at Fairmont Hot Springs October 13-14, 2026. Registration site will launch soon!
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Lunch & Learns - Join us for one hour online to learn how to strengthen your workplace. Registration for the fall sessions will open in August.
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Workshops - Are you looking for ways to increase employee retention, especially among your youngest workers? We provide free workshops. Gain concrete strategies to build and increase employee engagement, including through belonging and purpose. Contact us to learn more.
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Teacher Externships - Share what you do and how you do it with an educator so they bring relevant, real-world context into their classroom.
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Resources - Check out our many quick-start guides and toolkits for hosting career-connected learning opportunities. Don’t recreate the wheel.
Lunch & Learns
We bring relevant conversations to you monthly so you can learn from other employers and experts across Montana. Our one-hour spring sessions are ready to view at your convenience:
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Improving Recruitment & Retention through Belonging & Purpose with Gabrielle Eklund Rowley, Reach Higher Montana.
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Best Practices for Hosting Work-based Learning Experiences with panelists Courtney Coronado, Jackson Contractors; Mitchell Osland, Collaborative Design Architects; and Jenna Sparagna, Immanuel Living. Moderated by Katherine Booher, Accelerate Montana.
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Hiring and Working Successfully with Gen Z with Bethany Williamson, Associated Employers. Also, I've attached the slides & resources from Session 3 for your reference.
Host a Teacher Externship
When you host a teacher externship, an educator joins your company for three days to learn about what you do and how you do it. Position your organization as an attractive employer, and ensure teachers bring relevant, real-world context into the classroom. Learn more about the benefits. Interested? Fill out this form. And you can hear from past externs here.
Maximize the ROI on your work-based learning (WBL) programs
Our Employer WBL Toolkit is full of ideas! Looking for a readiness self-assessment? Check out page 27. Sample intern work plans? Page 29. Onboarding checklist? Page 36. Mentoring plan? See page 40. Intern manager best practices? Page 46.
Check out our resources specifically for employers. For a list of all Employer Resources click here!
Boost your bottom line and strengthen your workforce.
Showcase your workplace and strengthen your talent pipeline by hosting a teacher extern.
Get your questions on work-based learning answered.
Resources, tools, and guidance to get the best ROI from hosting work-based learning experiences.
Considerations and benefits for providing a worksite tour for students.
Wondering where to start? This guide is for you.
Learn why being a guest speaker in schools is good business.
Maximize your presence at student career fairs.
Learn the why and how for hosting a job shadow.
Use this Fact Sheet from the DLI to determine how the position should be categorized.
Should you pay your interns? Research says yes!
Externships are often transformative for educators, students, and industry partners.
Curious about regulations and what your under-18 year-old employee or intern can do?
Curious about manufacturing-specific regulations? Check out this resource.
Learn the differences between the two.
Build committed workers and train them for your specific needs.
Learn about youth apprenticeship, designed to start when apprentices are in high school.
Class 4 licenses are issued to those who have industry experience and wish to teach.
Wondering who is responsible for the student's workers compensation insurance?
Use this to ensure your apprenticeship program has value for you and your apprentice.
Ensure your apprenticeship program attracts and retains a competitive workforce.
Curious what workforce programs exist in Montana?
Boost your bottom line and strengthen your workforce.
Showcase your workplace and strengthen your talent pipeline by hosting a teacher extern.
Get your questions on work-based learning answered.
Resources, tools, and guidance to get the best ROI from hosting work-based learning experiences.
Considerations and benefits for providing a worksite tour for students.
Wondering where to start? This guide is for you.
Learn why being a guest speaker in schools is good business.
Maximize your presence at student career fairs.
Learn the why and how for hosting a job shadow.
Use this Fact Sheet from the DLI to determine how the position should be categorized.
Should you pay your interns? Research says yes!
Externships are often transformative for educators, students, and industry partners.
Curious about regulations and what your under-18 year-old employee or intern can do?
Curious about manufacturing-specific regulations? Check out this resource.
Learn the differences between the two.
Build committed workers and train them for your specific needs.
Learn about youth apprenticeship, designed to start when apprentices are in high school.
Class 4 licenses are issued to those who have industry experience and wish to teach.
Wondering who is responsible for the student's workers compensation insurance?
Use this to ensure your apprenticeship program has value for you and your apprentice.
Ensure your apprenticeship program attracts and retains a competitive workforce.
Curious what workforce programs exist in Montana?
Career Connected Learning
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