Otero Launches Partnerships to Help Students Gain Hands-On Experience

Allie Vanhook, Director of Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development at Otero College, has created partnerships with Parker Dewey and Forage, two companies that provide students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Parker Dewey is a company that hosts micro-internships, which are short-term, paid, project-centered experiences, where students can demonstrate their skills, explore career paths, and expand their professional network. Unlike a traditional internship, these paid opportunities typically range from 10 to 40 hours of work and are deadline-driven as opposed to set during specific hours – perfect for students with erratic or hectic schedules. This site allows employers to stand up projects that are important but that their employees do not have time to do or are often put off. If employers are interested in more information, they can go to https://info.parkerdewey.com/otero/featured.

With Forage, students can build their employability, and experience what it’s like to work at a range of world-leading companies virtually. They are able to get a taste of industry experience by completing short, real world, company-backed online projects provided through Forage. The experiences are free of charge for the students and are created by world-leading companies, like JPMorgan Chase, Citi, General Electric and many more. Students do not have to submit applications or go through interview processes to get these projects and by completing these virtual experience programs, they’ll build the practical skills that these employers are looking for, receive a personalized certificate of completion, and are able to share the experience on their resume and LinkedIn profile. When students go on to apply for internships or full-time roles, their virtual experience is a fantastic way to stand out.

Each individual program listed at Forage is created by a participating top global company. Once students register and choose their program of interest, they will be briefed online and will complete and submit all tasks virtually. Typically, each program takes five to six hours to complete. Students can go at their own pace. For more information about Forage, visit: https://www.theforage.com/.

Allie Vanhook shared, “Experience is undeniably a highly valued and sought-after quality that employers often prioritize when making crucial hiring decisions. Recognizing the immense significance of experience, Otero is dedicated to equipping our students with a wide range of additional opportunities to not only bolster their practical knowledge but also cultivate valuable skills that can be prominently showcased on their resumes and in the workforce.”

Otero aims to go above and beyond traditional academic pursuits, ensuring that students are equipped with a comprehensive skill set that goes beyond theoretical knowledge. By actively seeking and fostering collaborations with industry-leading professionals through Parker Dewey and Forage, Vanhook and Otero strive to expose students to real-world scenarios, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in their fields of interest. One of Vanhook’s goals is to cultivate well-rounded individuals that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on potential employers and contribute to shaping a future generation of accomplished professionals. For questions about Parker Dewey or Forage, please contact Allie Vanhook at 719-384-6958 or email Allison.Vanhook@otero.edu.