Last week, the WTIA Workforce Institute officially launched its registered apprenticeship program, Apprenti is the only tech apprenticeship accredited by the State of Washington and a first of its kind for the industry. Apprenti will recruit, train, and place at least 600 new tech workers during the pilot. This program is focused on recruiting underrepresented groups including women, minorities and veterans, helping bridge the skills and diversity gap and providing trained pathways into the state’s high-wage tech sector.

Apprenti reinvents the way the tech industry approaches training, hiring and recruiting new talent. The support we’ve had across the public and private sectors shows the collective need for a fresh approach to hiring and addressing diversity challenges in our industry. The launch is the culmination of our partnership with the state, our tech hiring partners, as well as those in the community who have worked so hard to see this program come to fruition.

Many of the roles being filled have continuity across multiple sectors; our hiring partners come from high-tech, healthcare and financial services. Initial apprenticed occupations include Database Administrator, Web Developer, Front End Software Application Developer, Project Manager and Network Security Analyst. However, we can accommodate other industry needs on request and are actively working to file UI/UX, QA and Data Analytics. To reap the benefits of becoming a hiring company, please contact me at jcarlson@washingtontechnology.org.

Increasing Diversity in Tech

Washington State is the top recruiter of tech talent in the country, with more than 8,000 new tech jobs per year. As demand for skilled workers grows, companies are also struggling to increase diversity among its workforce. The problem workers are facing is access. Less than twenty percent of the tech workforce is female and less than three percent is Hispanic or African American. There are an even smaller number of veterans working in the technology field. Apprenti will assist people within these underrepresented communities with a path and a plan for a successful career in technology; it will help the industry, and apprenticeship hiring partners like Microsoft and F5 Networks, meet the demand for diverse and skilled tech talent. We are well on our way in identifying diverse talent with over 350 applicants in our assessment pipeline.

Chuck Edward, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Microsoft said, “Apprenti is a great win for our organization. It provides the opportunity for someone to come in and work side-by-side with our employees and learn from that experience. The program provides pre-apprenticeship training and helps us access a more diverse, qualified workforce. Our partnership with the Workforce Institute enables us to influence the curriculum and initial training provided to apprentices and lets us do the on-the-job training.”

How Apprenti works

Apprenti is the only apprenticeship program registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and designed to meet the tech industry’s growing talent needs. Its primary focus is connecting tech companies with highly competent women, minority and/or veterans candidates. Successful applicants are highly capable, have good communication skills, are fluent in English (spoken and written), and have the drive to be successful. Once accepted to the program, each apprentice receives two to four months of certified technical training followed by one year of full-time, paid, on-the-job training with one of Apprenti’s many hiring partners. A grant from JP Morgan Chase is eliminating financial barriers for participants by helping to underwrite free training for the first round of apprentices.

Following the first round of Apprenti participants, the program will offer apprenticeship opportunities every three months beginning late fall 2016. The program is currently accepting applications for its first session. As a competency-based program, those with a strong determination to complete the rigorous training are encouraged to apply. To be considered for the program, you must be 18 or over, have a high school diploma or equivalent and be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status. You can apply by taking the online Apprenti assessment.

Participant selection for Apprenti is based on a competency model, prior experience and education are not factors in being accepted as an apprentice. Apprenti is looking for highly competent, driven people in our community seeking a path to a career in tech.

Successful completion of the multi-step process leads to your secured apprenticeship. Visit www.ApprentiCareers.org for more program details and take the online assessment here.

You can get involved by applying, donating, hiring, or evangelizing on Apprenti’s behalf.