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Create Opportunity is an initiative that increases the supply of high-demand software engineers through a screening, training and apprenticeship model designed for individuals from diverse, non-technical backgrounds.
Create Opportunity's public-private partnership with Midlands Technical College, a comprehensive, public 2-year college, and Catalyte, a workforce data science company, is helping South Carolina to solve both a systemic under-supply of software engineers while addressing pressing unemployment challenges.
MoreCreate Opportunity is working to create a sustainable pipeline of new software engineering talent in the Charlotte, NC area that will serve existing employers and serve as a recruitment tool for new industry. The partnership with Central Piedmont Community College and Catalyte will impact local and statewide economic development to push the region forward.
MoreCreate Opportunity will source local talent from the general population across all backgrounds.
Leveraging Catalyte's proven screening model, centered around a web-based screening that takes candidates with the aptitude to become software engineers and gives them the opportunity to enter training.
A flexible hybrid training program has seven modules that give trainees the robust foundation they need to become accomplished software engineers. Their training journey will be delivered by Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC, and Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC.
Employers will hire training graduates to complete a two-year salaried apprenticeship that includes standard health and retirement benefits to build upon the skills and practices learned through precision coaching and performance evaluation. Create Opportunity will source the apprenticeship jobs for program participants.
Upon finishing their apprenticeships, the graduates will join the ranks of highly-skilled software engineers. Ensuring that apprentices become successful software engineers that propel our region and the employers in our region is central to our mission. To do this, we will foster connectivity among alumni, active program participants, coaches, trainers, and employers.
"I've been a high school teacher for 15 years. After researching several programs offered at various schools none seemed to be a good fit until I came across Create Opportunity at the Richland County Library. I went through the screening process and was overjoyed (although a bit nervous) when I found out I was accepted. After six months I passed and now am working as a software engineer with Diesel Laptops. I love it here! Thank you, Create Opportunity, for helping me realize one of my dreams."
"Completing the Create Opportunity program at Midlands Technical College has been one of the most rewarding things I've done for myself. It was a challenging six months of learning and applying completely new ideas, but the skills I've developed have prepared me for entering the workforce."
"The Create Opportunity program at Midlands Technical College was a great experience. It taught me a lot more than I could have ever hoped for! Now, I am getting ready to start the post-training apprenticeship that will provide valuable experience to further my professional development and provide me with the financial stability to support achieving my goals."
"When I started the program, I was a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers, one of which is on the spectrum, and even with the hurdles of having various therapies and a crazy schedule in general I was able to complete the program with the help of Create Opportunity and Midlands Technical College staff. I now have a steady full-time remote job that I LOVE where I can provide for my family doing something that I enjoy and for that, I am very grateful. I highly recommend the program to anyone who has a love for code and the drive to push themselves to achieve something great".
"I'd been interested in programming for a while but had never been able to make the concepts stick. Create Opportunity ended up being the right fit for me. The course's structure and easily approachable Midlands Technical College instructors helped build my confidence and skillset. After finishing the course, I'm looking forward to continuing my journey as an Associate Software Engineer at Colonial Life."
"What brought me to Create Opportunity was the chance to dramatically improve our family's well-being. During the last three years at my IT job, no real raises were offered, and no promotions were available. These last six months have provided an incredible learning experience in which I picked up multiple programming languages, web frameworks, and soft skills. My apprenticeship will begin in a couple of weeks with Yovant, Inc., and my family wouldn't be in this exciting position without Create Opportunity and Midlands Technical College."
Individuals that successfully complete the apprenticeship emerge as qualified software engineers ready to work in an enterprise development environment. At this point, the engineer's salary should be equivalent to market rate for a mid-level developer with 2-3 years of experience, and they should be highly upwardly mobile.
Create Opportunity endeavors to maximize community attachment, strengthen long-term professional development opportunities for program graduates, and will foster a healthy and vibrant community of software engineers in the region.
Create Opportunity will increase the supply of high-demand software engineers in our region and support local economic development by fueling the growth of existing employers and the recruitment of new employers to the region with a capable technology workforce.