According to a news release, the new “Ticket to Tech” program began piloting its first cohort of 35 students this month, training them for entry-level tech support jobs in cloud computing, cybersecurity, data, networking and other fields, as well as imparting “durable skills” such as critical thinking, problem solving and communication.
The program was revealed earlier this month at ConnectWise’s IT Nation Connect 2022 conference for tech solution providers and companies, and the company has plans for nine additional cohorts next year.
According to the news release, the 17-week Ticket to Tech program will prepare students for the CompTIA A+ certification exam, described by the company as an industry standard for starting IT professionals, and train them on the ConnectWise Manage digital training platform. The program also includes mock interviews, resume help and lessons about LinkedIn and social media.
The announcement added that graduates will have two pathways to employment after completing the program — traditional full-time work to fill open desktop support positions, or apprenticing as full-time employees to receive additional on-the-job training and mentorship in pursuit of credentials from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The new program comes amid a flurry of accelerated training programs for IT job skills, including coding and software design bootcamps, and as employers across the U.S. struggle to fill IT vacancies with qualified applicants while they’re digitizing daily operations in both public- and private-sector industries. The program is also one of several similar training initiatives spurred by CompTIA, alongside the recent launch of an apprenticeship program at DeVry University to expand IT certification and training and bring more women and students of color into the IT workforce.
“The industry is in need of skilled IT professionals. Providing a solid path to employment instills confidence while serving as a boon to the hiring market,” Jen Locklear, chief people officer at ConnectWise, said in a public statement. “This pre-apprenticeship program is just the beginning; we’re excited to watch it grow as the momentum builds. With a culture of positivity and learning embedded in the program, these talented and eager individuals will be assets to the entire industry.”
