Recently, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries reported an increase in people pursuing apprenticeships- programs that help people learn a trade or skill while training with a potential employer.
While construction trades continued to top the list, there was also interest in high-tech roles — and the department issued several grants to industries and associations that expand programs to include high-tech, aerospace, and the medical assistant fields.
Yana Radenska’s own experience with an apprenticeship led her to a full-time job. She had already built a career outside of technology but was considering a change when she discovered Apprenti.
“It was in an unrelated discipline and I didn’t really have the time or money to go back and get another degree so this was a great option for somebody like me that’s already a working adult,” Radenska said.
Apprenti aims to bridge the diversity gap in the tech talent pipeline through an apprenticeship program. They encourage women, people of color and veterans to register, though anyone is eligible to apply.
Recently, Apprenti has started issuing digital credentials through Merit to make it easier for employers to cross-check qualifications.
‘It’s easy to get through the red tape,” said Merit co-founder and COO Jacob Orrin. “Individuals get their credentials to their devices, whether they’re getting them on their computers or smartphones, and they’re able to instantly share those with potential employers or with their active employers so they can take on new work or verify their credential is up to date.”