ADVICE
Upskill, reskill, and explore new career pathways with an IBM apprenticeship
Companies are struggling to find employees with the skills they need, especially in an economy shaped by technology. This has forced many to reevaluate their recruitment strategies by looking beyond candidates with a four-year degree. The skills gap, however, has helped shed the light on the important role of apprenticeships can play.
Companies like IBM are a frontrunner in this. In recent years, the technology company has tirelessly experimented with different hiring methods.
From their point of view, positions in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and other in-demand sectors do not necessarily require a traditional university background. They’ve been adding and diversifying their apprenticeship programmes, in addition to launching their own boot camp-style offerings.
| Apr 07 | 2 mins read“Even as many seek to revitalise traditional industries, lasting job creation will require an understanding of important new dynamics in the global labour market,” says IBM’s executive chairman Ginni Rometty. “This is not about white collar vs blue collar jobs, but about the ‘new collar’ jobs that employers in many industries demand, but which remain largely unfilled.”
An apprenticeship at IBM helps candidates develop fresh and relevant technical skills. Apprentices will undergo intensive work-based development programmes, comprehensive learning, experience hands-on training, and mentorship.
Their website notes: “This New Collar Programme is designed to create new career pathways for candidates without an advanced degree” – specifically in the ever-evolving world of fast-paced technology.
The company’s apprenticeship initiative helps candidates learn new skills and apply them to real-life projects; an apprentice would get feedback on their progress in real-time.
There are many benefits to doing apprenticeships — apprentice get the opportunity to collaborate with their peers across business units and geographies, gain industry knowledge and insights from managers and mentors, among other benefits.
Apprentices frequently participate in on-going training and development focused on building their professional and technical know-how. By completing milestones along the way, IBMers also acquire digital credentials.
IBM’s apprenticeship programmes can lead to outstanding professional outcomes.
“Before I wrote computer scripts, I wrote recipes,” explains chef-turned-QA engineer for IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software Andre Merten. “The apprenticeship programme provided me with real-world experience and on the job training.”
If you’re interested in achieving the same, IBM’s entry-level apprenticeship openings in the US currently include:
ADVICE
