Page 53 - Careers & Stuff 2021

hires the new coder. To help make
that happen, Zip Code offers job placement assistance and connections to corporate partners with direct hire positions. The nonprofit also provides professional development training.
“They have access to a plethora
of corporate partners,” says James Thompson, a data engineer who says he tripled his salary after graduating from the program. “Basically, [Zip Code] grooms you and then they sit you in front of [the partners].”
Jumping Into a Career
For younger people interested in career options in technology, there is Year Up Wilmington, a local chapter of
a national nonprofit program. Year Up serves young adults from high school- aged to 26, who are often an overlooked source of talent, says Peter Lonie, program director. The nonprofit’s six- month program is free and sometimes even offers a $50-a-week stipend for students who qualify.
“We’re getting more and more students who don’t want to spend four years in college. They want to be able to jump into a career,” says Lonie. The
program boasts a 90% placement rate for its graduates.
The technical skills are key, but it’s the extra help and personal caring that makes the difference, according to many of the students. As a result of their comprehensive approach, these nonprofit programs are turning out
a product in demand. Employers are noticing.
“[ZIP CODE] IS A PLACE THAT IS REALLY PREPARING THESE STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN A REAL- WORLD ENVIRONMENT,
AND THEY’RE TEACHING THEM TO LEARN REALLY QUICKLY.”
“We are looking for people who
are able to adapt quickly,” says Mike Harnish, president of KSM Technology Partners. His company works with Zip Code Wilmington. “This is a place that is really preparing these students to
succeed in a real-world environment, and they’re teaching them to learn really quickly.”
Quickly is how soon the industry needs these graduates. Software development and coding are fast-growing areas in the nation, says Eldridge. Graduates of these programs land in jobs with salaries ranging from $35,000 to $80,000 to start. There is a lot of room for more coders, Eldridge says.
“Delaware has a lot of good power users of technology, but there is a need for technology developers,” she says.
Delaware’s nonprofits are recruiting now for their fall classes, and they
are looking for people with grit and determination more than computer skills. One graduate described her program as “college on steroids.”
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” says David Kelly, musician turned software developer and 2020 graduate of Zip Code Wilmington. “My biggest takeaway from my Zip Code experience is that properly applied effort can get you what you want from your life.”
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