18 Weeks to Prepare For Your IT Career
Welcome to the Tech Foundry Experience.
Tech Foundry offers a high-touch competency-based 18-week Information Technology (IT) Support training program. The program delivers an integrated learning experience that combines technical skills, professional development and career readiness, supported by a team of experienced and committed Tech Foundry staff members. Through this journey, student members will become part of a tight-knit community and have the opportunity to learn in-demand technical skills through a mix of classes, projects and labs in a hybrid (a mix of on-line and in-person meetings) model. Student members also participate in professional development workshops, meet professionals in the field, complete a capstone project, and intern with one of our employer partners. Each participant leaves the Tech Foundry program with the skills and knowledge to land jobs and advance in an IT career. Student members completing the program will gain:
- Essential Technical Skills
- Hands-On Experience Acquired Through Labs and Internships
- IT Career Map
- Career Preparation Including Professional Strategies and Materials
- Coaching And Mentoring
- Potential Job Placement
- Google IT Certificate
- Access To CompTIA Study Materials and Discounted Certification Exam
HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TECH FOUNDRY?
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FAQ
How often do you host the program?
For the past two years we have delivered the program in the Fall and Winter-Spring.
When should I apply?
We currently do not have rolling applications but encourage prospective applicants to check during the summer (June) for the fall class and fall (November-January) for the spring class.
How much does the program cost?
There are no fees associated with participation in this program. However, members will have to invest an incredible amount of energy and time into the program.
Do I need prior technical experience?
We recommend that potential student members have some technical proficiency that will help them navigate comfortably around a Windows-based computer.
What does the application process entail?
Our recruitment process assesses individuals’ basic computer knowledge, commitment to Tech Foundry’s IT Support program. and interest in an IT career. The application process is comprised of the following:
- Application form on our website (20-30 minutes)
- General interest questions (7 minutes)
- Demographic information (7 minutes)
- Technical assessment (15 minutes)
- Interview (20 minutes)
How long is the program?
This is an 18-week program, with 14 weeks of learning followed by a 4-week internship. We meet five days a week, Monday-Friday, for 5 hours each day. Classes are hybrid, with a minimum of 2 days a week in person at Tech Foundry’s downtown Springfield, MA location and the remainder being offered online. The class schedules are typically mornings or afternoons and can be confirmed during the application process.
What does the program consist of?
18 weeks (440 hours) of combined experiences:
- Technical courses
- Hands-on labs
- Academic tutoring
- Career readiness and coaching activities
- Leadership and professional development classes
- Capstone final project
- Internship
- Potential job placement
What is a capstone project?
All Tech Foundry student members will be engaged in a final project during their fourteenth week of the program. The project can be proposed by the member or they could engage with one we would recommend. The goal of the capstone experience is for members to explore a topic that interests them, while also demonstrating technical skills and building a portfolio of work.
How can I prepare for class? Do I need any tools or equipment?
Before starting the program, we recommend members explore topics related to software and hardware troubleshooting. There are terrific resources online, and Tech Foundry can make recommendations to you. These skills will also be taught during the program but members find some additional preparation before classes begin is helpful. Tech Foundry will supply the equipment necessary to succeed in the program.
Our Approach to Learning
Tech Foundry has partnered with Google to bring a robust IT Support program. All learners will engage in the following process:
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Learn
Members learn a skill through a combination of lectures, hands on activities, reading and writing. The goal is to have them be able to process the information and be able to demonstrate it after.
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Demonstrate
Members demonstrate their ability to work through a series of tasks by setting up and managing systems. This requires the learner to be able to iterate on their practices.
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Reflect
Members will engage in reflection of their practices and be able to present their knowledge in multiple modalities (presentation, documentation, etc.). They will also engage in the practice of presenting information, giving, and receiving feedback from both peers and facilitators.
Tech Foundry Coursework to Prepare you for a Career in IT
IT Fundamentals
- Office365
- IT Customer Service
- Hardware Fundamentals – Desktop and Server
- Operating Systems: Linux and Windows
- Fundamentals of Networking
- Network Services – DHCP & DNS
- System Administration -Windows Server and Active Directory
- Imaging and Deployment
- Security
Professional Development and Career Readiness
- Career Roadmapping
- Leadership Style and Planning
- Goal Setting
- Communication
- Teams and Collaboration
- Interviewing
- Resume
- Mindfulness
- Managing energy
- Negotiation
- Cover letter
- Feedback
- Design Thinking
- Emotional intelligence
Capstone
- Final project leveraging prior skills gained in the program.
- AWS Educate provides the infrastructure to deploy the project.
