Jumpstart Your Career

The Career Jumpstart Fellowship provides online training to help you earn and thrive in entry-level, high-demand tech sector jobs. The program combines live remote learning with an instructor and self-directed learning to help you build the mindsets, habits, knowledge, and skills that you need to succeed in an upwardly mobile career.

In the Career Jumpstart Fellowship, you will develop the skills to work in high-demand jobs in tech. You will also develop and practice personal and professional skills that are essential for success throughout your career and life.

How will you build your future?

Our students are ready to take on hard challenges like learning to code, building new professional relationships, and reflecting deeply. They’re also looking for a team to help them along the way: a cohort of peers, coaches and instructors that share their goals.  

Many of our students use this program to land a part-time job or internship that’s aligned with their professional interests while they are in college. Other students are looking for full-time jobs or apprenticeships. No matter where you are on your journey, our team will help you hone your professional and educational goals.  

No prior technical experience is required, though many of our students choose us because they have an interest in technology careers.

Is the Career Jumpstart Fellowship right for you?

Testimonials

See what our graduates and partners have to say

Opportunity College didn’t just focus on being prepared for the job, but it went much further in developing yourself by focusing on your well-being and health as a priority for the long haul... I am proud to be a student at OC as they never focused on your past failures, but looked at them as things we can learn from to become better.

- Alexandra Ladyzhensky, Career Jumpstart alumna

CityWorksDC's collaboration with Opportunity College's Career Jumpstart Fellowship has proven to be highly impactful for our program alums. Our participants who have matriculated through the fellowship have exhibited increased confidence and motivation to define and pursue their career goals. The additional support provided by Opportunity College has equipped them with the technical skills to excel in entry-level positions within their interested industries.

- Marcus Wilson, Manager at Embark, CityWorks DC

FAQs

  • Opportunity College’s mission is to accelerate students into purpose-filled lives that lead to economic freedom. We do this by building education and employment pathways that lead to both strong first jobs and college degrees.

    Our curriculum will help you explore career interests; develop personal and professional skills; and complete job-specific training to earn and thrive in living-wage jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree.

    You will work with instructors and student success coaches to receive the guidance and resources to be successful and flourish in a great first job that leads to financial freedom. The fellowship will position you to have choices, whether that be to earn a college degree and/or to financially support your family.

  • While there are many technical job training programs for working adults, our fellowship is specifically designed for young adults aged 18-24 who seek both educational and career outcomes. Through our holistic student support and cohort model, students can thrive in an inclusive belonging-centered learning environment.

    We are fully online with live, virtual instruction in a cohort-based learning environment. Students have opportunities to engage in self-directed learning experiences through asynchronous work to simulate the professional work environment. You will develop and grow essential professional and career skills (e.g., critical thinking, collaboration, and communication) in order to thrive in college and your career.

  • Our fellowship appeals to a diverse group of individuals. If you are 18-24 years old, have a high school diploma, are eligible to work in the U.S., and have a hunger to jumpstart your career in a high demand field, then this program is for you.

    Recent high school graduates, those with some college, or soon-to-be or recent college grads are encouraged to apply.

    Select cohorts have location-based eligibility requirements. Please read the eligibility requirements on each cohort web page.

  • Upon completion, we will support you in pursuing your education and career goals. Many students will secure a full-time job or apprenticeship in the tech industry. Others will enroll in college and obtain a part-time job or summer internship in the tech sector that allows them to use their new technical skills and certification.

    No matter your path, you will have the flexibility to achieve your education and career goals. Our team is committed to welcoming you into our alumni network and supporting you throughout your continued education and career journey.

    Our students go on to major in Computer Science, Product Design, and Information Technology; earn their CompTIA A+ certification; study UX design; work as web developers and web maintenance experts; and more.

  • Web development cohorts will earn a certificate from W3Schools in React.js. You will be able to build and launch a website using universal web languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; build dynamic modular web applications using React.js; and have a live project portfolio containing web projects showcasing different coding skills.

    IT cohorts will earn a Google IT Support Certificate. You will understand the fundamental tasks required of a junior IT professional, including working with varied IT hardware, software, and networking tools; evaluating and solving security risks; and communicating technical information. You will also have the knowledge, tools, and resources you need to study for the CompTIA A+ certification, a valuable next step to accelerate your IT career.

  • We are not yet an accredited institution of higher education. However, we work with our program graduates to build a pathway to a degree from an accredited college or university. We provide our students with college enrollment and persistence guidance including choosing a best-fit college, selecting courses, aligning courses to career trajectory, and obtaining college credit for prior learning experiences (including the learning achieved through our programs).

  • Participants are not paid for participation in Career Jumpstart training programs. However, the program costs are free to students through grant and scholarship funding. If an applicant requires a flexible schedule in order to have financial stability, we recommend they consider the part-time cohort.

  • Students will develop focused education and career goals under the guidance of course instructors, teaching assistants and student success coaches. This Student Success team supports students to prepare resumes, cover letters, and other core assets for their job searches. Students will also access our volunteer community of industry leaders and our national Opportunity College alumni network.

  • All students are required to have access to (1) laptop or desktop computer, (2) working camera and (3) internet access as we are 100% online. A mobile device or tablet is not enough as you will need to be able to navigate multiple browsers and platforms. No prior technical experience is required.

    Not sure if you meet the technology requirements to participate? Please contact studentsupport@opcollege.org and we will discuss options for acquiring the needed hardware.

Interested? Learn about how to apply.