Ethan Bui: Reflections on my CWDC Apprenticeship

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July 22, 2021 - The CWDC has been fortunate to have Ethan Bui on staff as an apprentice since the summer of 2018. As Ethan’s apprenticeship comes to a close and he transitions into his new role with CDLE, we asked him to share some reflections about his time as an apprentice with the CWDC. Read his thoughts below. 

Ethan Bui receives his certificate of completion for his apprenticeship

Ethan Bui receives his completion certificate at CareerWise Colorado's Apprenticeship Rising event on June 15.


By Ethan Bui, former CWDC Apprentice and Operations Analyst

As a former CareerWise youth apprentice at the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), I worked part-time on the operations team as the operations analyst. I initially started in the role of data steward, and as the apprenticeship began to evolve, I found myself leading the implementation of Salesforce within the organization. Other projects I had the opportunity to support were the 2019 Think Big Conference, office relocation, and various trainings facilitated by the CWDC.

As an apprentice, I was surprised by how enthusiastic and friendly everyone was who I worked with. The supportive network of coworkers that I met in the office was vital in supporting me to take risks and leverage growth opportunities. My favorite part as an apprentice was working alongside the Council staff on projects where I got to observe how they work in their areas of expertise. There were always areas where I could learn from someone or improve on myself.

Since working at the CWDC, I've had the opportunity to learn more about the role the state government plays within the workforce system in Colorado. When starting, I had no idea about all of the partnerships involved in supporting workforce development and how the CWDC integrates the work. Interacting with stakeholders from across the state was one of my favorite aspects of working at the CWDC. I've been able to learn more about the areas within Colorado and various jobs that I had never thought of before. These learning experiences were invaluable in deciding what I wanted to do after high school. 

As my apprenticeship has come to a close, I've accepted a new role on the Strategic Technology Platform Team at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). In this role, I will continue to support the CWDC as a Salesforce Administrator while also learning from CDLE's team of Salesforce professionals. I'm looking forward to continuing to work closely with the team at the CWDC and all of the initiatives they are leading.

My advice to other apprentices and employers considering apprenticeships would be to approach the experience with an open mind. The apprentice may surprise you with how quickly they progress, and there may be projects or other opportunities within the business that the apprentice can lead. I see a lot of value in the flexibility of the apprenticeship program and how it can be tailored to fit the needs of the apprentice and the employer so both can thrive.

 

Thank you, Ethan, for all of your contributions to the CWDC!