JobWorks, Inc., a national nonprofit organization, addresses a practical workforce challenge: many adults want access to tech careers, but do not have the experience, equipment, funding, or employer connections needed to make that transition on their own. Through its TechWorks program, the organization gives those learners a structured path into entry-level IT roles.
John Casella, Chief Growth Officer for JobWorks, Inc., describes the program as serving people who often come from outside the technology field entirely. Many are career transitioners with backgrounds in retail, food service, health care, transportation, and other industries. What they have in common is not prior IT experience, but the passion to build a new career if the right support system is in place.
That support system is intentionally comprehensive. TechWorks is delivered through live, virtual instruction, with students participating in an intensive 12-week model that combines technical training, certification preparation, coaching, career readiness, and employer connection. JobWorks also helps eligible learners access tuition-free scholarships through public workforce funding and partner organizations, removing a significant barrier for students who may not otherwise be able to participate.
For JobWorks, whose students come from across the USA, the live virtual format is a critical part of the program. It extends their reach while providing the structure and accountability learners need to complete training and move toward employment.
A full-circle model built around student support
What stands out about TechWorks is how deliberately the program is designed around the full learner journey. It begins before enrollment, with a recruitment and screening process that helps prospective students understand what the program requires before they even apply.
Potential candidates first participate in a program demo to gauge their interest. After applying, they move through a structured interview process. Once accepted, JobWorks connects them with funding through their network of partner organizations, nonprofits, and public grant programs. That level of front-end preparation ensures that learners understand the commitment and sets a realistic expectation of their participation.
The program is built intentionally to reduce the practical barriers that can derail an adult learner long before they reach the certification exam. JobWorks provides one-on-one coaching and support designed to reduce the practical barriers that can derail an adult learner long before they reach the certification exam, including:
- Equipment and connectivity: Laptops and Wi-Fi hotspot opportunities so learners can participate fully in virtual instruction
- AI-powered career readiness resources: Resume support, interview preparation and job search guidance
- Employer connections: Direct introductions to hiring partners actively seeking entry-level IT talent
- Ongoing alumni support: An alumni benefits portal and career tracking that keeps graduates connected long after completion
As Casella put it, the goal is to "truly make an impact in student lives." That philosophy shows up in the details. Students are supported through the learning process, but JobWorks also follows alumni over the course of their careers and maintains an alumni benefits portal to stay connected after graduation, which includes additional free training opportunities, employer connections, job leads, and no-cost academic credit opportunities with partner 4-year institutions.
The live virtual classroom is central to that approach. Casella acknowledged that some in the industry have not yet fully appreciated the power and impact of live virtual workforce training, compared to those legacy programs that are still only offered in-person. JobWorks' model shows that live virtual instruction can create accountability, team spirit and build relationships among students, even if they are not in the same room.
As Casella says, ”We hear from students all the time that they value the relationships they build in our virtual classes, and that the structure, support, and live interaction make the difference. We've proved that live online workforce training works at scale – it just requires the right model and approach.”
Certifications embedded in the pathway, not added on later
CompTIA Tech+ and CompTIA A+ certifications are embedded in the core of the TechWorks program as a critical pathway into entry-level tech roles. For JobWorks, the decision to build around CompTIA was driven by employer demand, “CompTIA is the gold standard,” Casella says.
That employer validation shaped the program’s strategy. JobWorks received a clear signal from their employer network: “You don’t need experience if you have a CompTIA cert.” Certifications give learners a way to demonstrate foundational skills, while also giving employers a recognizable benchmark when evaluating candidates from nontraditional backgrounds.
JobWorks maintains close connections with employers, speaking with partners regularly about hiring needs and emerging skill requirements. That feedback loop helps them adjust curriculum and better understand where graduates may fit in the market. It also allows JobWorks to bring job opportunities back to its alumni network, strengthening those ongoing relationships.
The result is a pathway designed around both readiness and relevance. Students prepare for certifications during the program, but they are also building the communication skills, job search habits, and employer awareness needed to turn those certifications into career opportunities. That approach is reflected in the results: during the past year, 86% of graduates earned a CompTIA certification.
Outcomes that reflect workforce discipline
TechWorks has served approximately 1,500 students over eight years, with about 250 students participating annually. Because much of JobWorks' funding comes through public workforce dollars, measurable outcomes are central to the program's design. More than 83% of students completed the program during the past year, and 86% of graduates earned a CompTIA certification.
"Helping our students secure employment is our north star and drives nearly every decision we make. Every part of the program has to connect back to it," John Casella explains. The result is a program model that not only focuses on completion, but treats recruitment, funding, instruction, certification, coaching, employer engagement, and alumni support all as parts of the same system.
The impact shows up most clearly after training ends. For students enrolling through FY25, at least 70% of alumni secured employment following the program. Graduates reported an average annualized post-program salary of $49,200. For an organization serving adults who are often entering technology from entirely different industries, those results provide a tangible measure of the program's impact.
What's next for JobWorks
JobWorks is also looking ahead. The organization is pursuing accreditation and exploring new tech training programs that build mid-level skills, including pathways aligned to CompTIA Network+ and Security+.
For organizations and institutions trying to support adults with barriers to employment, the lesson from TechWorks is clear: access matters, resources matter, but a structured, supportive, and intentional program model matters just as much if not more. As Casella puts it, "We're proof that you don't have to choose between reach and quality. The live virtual model lets us serve learners anywhere in the country, and CompTIA certifications give them something that employers recognize wherever they land." JobWorks has built an enduring program that brings them all together using CompTIA certifications as a trusted foundation.
Ready to explore how CompTIA can support your workforce training program? Contact us to discuss partnership options, certification pathways, and how to build structured programs that connect learners to careers.