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Employers can sign up to interview the graduates; Students interested in the next San Diego IT-Ready course should submit applications online by August 16.

San Diego —The first IT-Ready class in San Diego will graduate this Friday, May 17, according to Creating IT Futures, CompTIA’s tech workforce charity. Local IT hiring managers are asked to consider these job candidates for their entry-level helpdesk job openings, especially as two-thirds of the students are military veterans ready to launch their second careers in the private sector and all the students are ready to work.

Formerly an electronics journeyman for the U.S. Air Force, Jason Robinson had been unemployed on and off for the last six months before enrolling in IT-Ready this spring in San Diego. “I had IT skills knowledge, but no formal training. Many jobs that I had been applying for required a CompTIA A+ certification,” said Robinson. “Thank you for this opportunity to gain this certification. The certification and camaraderie of a group of people looking for a successful opportunity for their life is a huge morale boost.”

Creating IT Futures has a long track record of placing its IT-Ready students into full-time IT careers with more than 86% of graduates landing jobs due to their blend of hard tech skills and business soft skills training and certification.

“For San Diego businesses hiring IT-Ready graduates, not only are they making smart employment decisions, but also diversifying their tech workforce. We train motivated people with an aptitude for technology from multiple underserved populations, including military veterans,” Sue Wallace, executive director, national workforce solutions, Creating IT Futures, said. “After eight weeks in our full-time class, students have the tech and business skills to be ready for work on day one of their new jobs.”

IT-Ready is provided to students in San Diego completely free of charge, thanks to financial support from the Cognizant U.S. Foundation and in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).

“We’re really excited about the beginning of this partnership,” said Tom Kastner, financial wellness vice president at WWP. “Warriors are gaining interest in this collaboration, which is leading these men and women to meaningful careers and more fulfilled lives.”

How IT-Ready Works
IT-Ready is an eight-week, classroom-based, instructor-led program that teaches a wide range of hardware and networking skills people need to secure entry-level IT positions. Just as importantly, IT-Ready also teaches critical “soft” skills, such as workplace etiquette, communication, collaboration, problem-solving and customer service.  

At the end of IT-Ready training, students sit for the CompTIA A+ certification exam. This vendor-neutral certification has become the IT industry's preferred qualifying credential for an entry-level tech role.

San Diego-area businesses interested in reviewing resumes of IT-Ready graduates and interviewing them for entry-level IT positions should contact Nicole Maseberg at [email protected] or visit https://www.creatingitfutures.org/hire/hire-overview.

Prospective IT-Ready candidates can submit their applications online now for San Diego’s next IT-Ready class. The course begins September 16, and the application deadline is August 16. No previous tech experience is necessary to participate in IT-Ready, and only a high school diploma or GED is required. Prospective students can apply at https://www.creatingitfutures.org/apply.

IT-Ready students receive free tuition, books and learning materials, more than 240 hours of training, and certification vouchers. Classes run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday for eight weeks. By working with dozens of local and national employer partners, Creating IT Futures connects its graduates to full-time jobs in the tech industry.

About Creating IT Futures
Founded in 1998 by CompTIA, Creating IT Futures is a 501(c)(3) charity with the mission of helping populations under-represented in the information technology industry and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at www.creatingITfutures.org.

Media Contact:
Lisa Fasold
Creating IT Futures
630-678-8558
[email protected]