IT pre-apprenticeship programs should partner with industry, employers, unions, intermediaries, and the public workforce system to facilitate placements.
It is important for pre-apprenticeships to understand the hesitancy of IT employers to hire candidates without traditional tech backgrounds, while also cultivating relationships with non-IT employers that have IT jobs as well as regional IT industry associations.
As noted above, few IT employers host WBL opportunities or hire job candidates who lack traditional IT training. High-quality pre-apprenticeship programs should work to understand and address the various concerns or apprehensions of IT employers about these on-ramp programs while also focusing on building out partnerships with promising IT employers. Programs can start by cultivating industry partners that host WBL and career-exploration activities or contribute to training design, because that involvement may indicate a willingness to hire graduates for an apprenticeship or job. IT pre-apprenticeship programs can also reach out to regional IT industry associations operating in their area to expand the network of potential employers for apprenticeship or job placement.
Pre-apprenticeships can also benefit from prioritizing partnerships with non-IT employers that have IT jobs and apprenticeships. It can be easier to secure job placements with these entities due to their demonstrated willingness to engage with the apprenticeship system and to hire diverse job candidates. Similarly, smaller IT companies are attractive partners because they generally have a stronger track record than their larger counterparts of hiring a range of jobseekers with diverse training backgrounds and experiences and facilitating their career advancement.