Break into tech with IBM’s pre-apprenticeship certificate programmes

If you’re looking to get your foot in the door with tech jobs, there’s no better way to do so than with industry knowledge from tech titans themselves. IBM offers various pre-apprenticeship training programmes to give individuals across the globe the chance to upskill and gain key competencies across a suite of technical topics.  

In recent years, the technology company has tirelessly experimented with different hiring methods, including focusing on skills-based hiring instead of hiring based on four-year college degrees.

“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.”

IBM’s pre-apprenticeship programmes are ideal for those new to tech — it is designed to help candidates gain a solid foundation in specific areas and gain relevant technical skills.

Their website echoes this: “This New Collar Programme is designed to create new career pathways for candidates without an advanced degree”, relevant in today’s fast-paced digital world. 

If you’re interested in a digital credential by a world-renowned organisation, here are some of the pre-apprenticeship programmes worth exploring:

Cybersecurity 

Participants of the Cybersecurity Pre-apprenticeship digital learning experience will learn the history, types, and motives of cyberattacks to understand current threats to organisations and individuals. In just 70 hours, learners will be able to demonstrate an understanding of key cybersecurity terminology, system concepts, and tools, while getting accustomed to methods used to conduct research in the field. 

Data Scientist 

The Data Scientist Pre-apprenticeship Certificate is approximately 160 hours long. Learners will understand the basics of data science, python programming, the building and running of SQL, and open-source library functionality. Upon completion, students will hone the skills to successfully create and deliver presentations, organise slide decks, solve problems, and implement solutions more effectively. Design thinking and agile practices are also emphasised throughout the course. 

z/OS 

Completing the 140-hour long z/OS Pre-apprenticeship Certificate enables aspirants to gain knowledge of mainframe hardware and operating systems along with its features. Upon completion, students will understand fundamental practical skills in a z/OS environment, and gain foundational knowledge of VSAM, z/OS System Libraries, System Services, to name a few, while participating in hands-on labs with basic system programming on IBM Z.

Software Engineer 

This 87-hour programme teaches students the rules of various programming languages. Upon completion, learners will be able to demonstrate an understanding of object-oriented programming, Java fundamentals, essential ideas, and concepts for success in any programming language. 

IT Support Specialist 

This pre-apprenticeship certificate programme helps aspiring IT support specialists develop a basic understanding of customer support and security. Learners will gain an understanding of the basics of computer hardware, desktop management, mobile devices, networking, operating systems, security and the foundations of virtualisation and cloud computing. In addition to this, earners will also develop an understanding of general troubleshooting strategies and methodologies, documentation and remote user support.