OJT is a joint program between the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Department of Transportation with the goal of addressing the underutilization of women and minorities in the highway construction field by offering training opportunities to learn the necessary skills. The OJT program is not intended, and shall not be used, to discriminate against any applicant for training.
*You do not need any experience as the OJT program is geared toward recruiting new people into the industry.
The benefits of participating in the WVDOH OJT program are:
- Trainees are given the opportunity to learn new skills used in the performance of highway construction, such as:
- Carpenter
- Cement Mason
- Equipment Operator
- Iron Worker
- Laborer
- Truck Driver
- Participants are trained by experienced workers on the job site.
- Trainees are paid while getting hands-on experience.
The qualifications that OJT participants will need are:
Each employer has preferred qualifications, but most will require:
- Valid driver’s license
- Reliable transportation
- Ability to pass a required drug test
- A willingness to show up to work and the desire to learn
- Availability to travel to different job sites
Hiring decisions to fulfill required OJT training positions are made by highway contractors. WVDOH cannot guarantee any individual employment. However, in an effort to bring jobseekers into contact with Equal Opportunity Employers in the construction field the following organizations have agreed to maintain a Construction Recruitment List for people interested in participating in the program to register. For more information or to register on the different recruitment lists, you must contact them directly at their respective phone numbers.
American Red Cross Veteran Service
113 Lakeview Drive, Charleston, WV 25313
Phone: (304) 340-3650
(Veterans)
Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center
1321 Plaza East, P.O. Box 1349
Charleston, WV, 25325
Phone: (866) 660-3400
(Native American)
Partnership of African American Churches(PAAC)
1514 Kanawha Blvd. West
Charleston, WV 25387
Phone: (304)768-7688
(Women and all minority groups)
West Virginia Women Work
201 New Jersey St Morgantown, WV, 26501
Phone: (304)598-0114
(Women and all minority groups)
*Approved apprenticeship programs sponsored by Craft Unions are frequently utilized to fulfill OJT opportunities. To obtain information about the different apprenticeship programs in WV, visit http://wvapprenticeships.com/ or contact your local unions.
