Due to high demand and shifting opportunities in the tech job market, Calgary’s InceptionU is launching a new short-form Customer Success development program designed to help job seekers land their next big role in tech.
Beginning in February, the Customer Success stream is developed jointly by InceptionU and its partner 321 Growth Academy. This second cohort will be part-time and virtual allowing people to maintain a job while participating in the program at night and on weekends.
“With fear of a recession, rising interest rates and inflation, we know it’s unrealistic to expect that people will quit their current job to train for another one,” says Margo Purcell, CEO of InceptionU. “This way, they can still earn an income while working towards a career transition.”
In addition to Customer Success, InceptionU will also offer Growth Marketing and Full Stack Design. All three roles are critical for new tech companies as they grow and scale in Alberta and are accessible to those who have little to no previous tech experience.
“What we saw in Cohort 1 was many people who thought they were interested in coding came to realize they excelled in the marketing, sales and customer-facing roles. And this is exactly what tech companies need right now as they look to reduce customer churn, boost customer retention and, ultimately, grow their revenue,” says Purcell.
What makes the Tech Adjacent program unique is an eight-week focus on essential skill development. With increasing automation and digitalization, there is an increased need to focus on human skills that machines can not replace – active listening, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, intellectual humility, building resilience and receiving and integrating feedback.
These skills have long been a focus at InceptionU, but aren’t prioritized enough in traditional education or continuing education.
Another key focus of the program is helping people not only find a job, but also a career that aligns with their values. The eight-week career discovery process helps them determine what is important in a future employer.
“We work on changing attitudes about employment, helping people to consciously choose what type of company they want to work for, rather than taking anything they can get. The deep career work we do at the beginning of the program is critical in helping people find ‘best fit’ roles that will offer stable and long-term employment,” says Purcell.
Alberta’s tech sector continues to grow and attract venture capital funding, with year-over-year growth. To capture these opportunities and help companies grow and scale their impact, customer success roles are key.
“Customer success is, hands-down, one of today’s most high-growth and in-demand fields. Through project-based learning with real-world clients, we help people build their resume and skills so they can hit the ground running and drive impact from day one,” says Chantel Elliott, Partner of 321 Growth Academy, the program’s delivery partner.
The Tech Adjacent program is made possible through a $1.2 million Jobs Economy and Northern Development (JEND) grant from the Alberta government. Those who qualify are accepted into the program at no cost. It is ideally suited for those with little to no tech experience and those who are underrepresented in tech including youth, women, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized communities, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities.
If people are interested in learning more about Tech Adjacent and other programs at InceptionU, they can register for the online information session TechTrek: Where Career Meets Tech on January 25th.
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