Looking to Improve Your Digital Skills? Here’s Why You Should Train at QuickStart

It’s no secret that the tech industry has been facing a skills shortage, with the conversation going back to 2012. Ten years later, the gap persists. Korn Ferry, a management consulting firm, reveals that over 85 million jobs will go unfilled by 2030, equivalent to an unrealized revenue of $8.5 trillion.

While the numbers are bleak for companies, the shortage presents workers like you with the opportunity to bridge their own skills gap and become indispensable in today’s workforce. The even better news: there’s no shortage of options available to you to upskill.

One training ground that’s worth checking out is QuickStart.

What Is QuickStart?

QuickStart is an online IT skills training platform built to address the massive skills gap in the tech industry. It offers personalized and individualized training in Cybersecurity, Cloud Engineering, AI and Machine Learning, Data Science and Analytics, and Software Engineering, all of which belong to 2022’s best tech jobs.

We spoke with Bryan Kenna, the CEO at QuickStart, to learn more about the company, its history, and its vision.

QuickStart has a 35-year history of providing tech training to build and develop the IT workforce and fill the massive demand for skilled workers. “While the training model and fields have evolved, the mission is still as relevant as ever,” shares Kenna.

Today, QuickStart partners with top US universities, certification partners, and employers to train, deploy, and upskill tech professionals. Kenna adds that QuickStart uses two different models to achieve these goals.

1. Training and deploying. This model is aimed at career starters and career switchers with zero to little tech experience. In partnership with leading universities and certification providers, QuickStart creates pathways in the form of six-month immersive programs with placement support for students to help them get trained, certified, and land tech jobs.
2. Upskilling. This model is oriented at existing IT professionals who want to upskill in their field and to companies keen on upskilling their staff. QuickStart helps tech specialists get additional IT certifications through a massive library of certification training programs across various technologies, delivered in multiple formats.

Kenna notes that QuickStart’s core value is putting students first. “We have a team that’s dedicated to providing an outstanding student experience,” he adds. “Learners can expect to receive end-to-end support as QuickStart ensures that learners get into programs that align with their goals and reach their target outcomes.”

5 Reasons to Train and Upskill in Tech with QuickStart

With over three decades of tech training experience, QuickStart distinguishes itself as one of the most comprehensive IT training providers.

An Innovative Learning Platform

QuickStart is redefining the online learning experience by offering CLIPP (Cognitive Learning Project Performance), a single cloud-based platform that supports multiple learning modalities. Do you want to learn at your pace? Or do you prefer being guided by an instructor? Do you value on-the-job training? What about gaining hands-on experience through labs?

Aware that the way we learn is more than just one-size-fits-all, QuickStart delivers training in multiple modalities through the CLIPP platform. The platform supports live classes, self-paced learning, one-on-one coaching, hands-on training in virtual labs, social learning, and more. CLIPP also gives you access to additional materials to further your skills.

The platform is home to over 1,300 training courses and expanding, with its programs tailored to different audiences. For instance, if you’re looking to launch your career, you can choose among the following IT bootcamp programs:

• Cybersecurity
• Cloud Engineering
• AI and Machine Learning
• Data Science and Analytics, and
• Full Stack Web Development

Tuition will vary depending on the type of bootcamp you choose. For example, flexible bootcamp programs cost between $5,900, while immersive bootcamp programs may cost you between $6,800 and $7,900. If you cannot afford to pay out of pocket, QuickStart offers a menu of payment plans, such as installment plans, discounted prepaid payments, and third-party financing, to help you get started.

If, on the other hand, you’re an IT professional looking to bolster your skills and resume with a professional certification, QuickStart offers courses designed to prepare you for top industry certification exams. Don’t worry. QuickStart is a certified training partner to leading certification providers and brands AWS, Cisco, CompTIA, EC Council, Microsoft, and PeopleCert, which means the content QuickStart receives is the standard and aligned with the third-party certification exams relevant in the field.

University Partnerships

QuickStart partners with some of the top universities in the US to offer its online tech bootcamps. By the end of your program, you will receive a certificate of completion from your chosen university. Its university partners include the following:

• The University of Texas at Arlington. UTA is considered to be one of the best colleges for adult learners in Texas. IT Bootcamps offered in partnership with UTA are suitable for both tech professionals and beginners. You can choose one of the career paths such as Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, AI & ML, and Data Science and Analytics.
• The University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas at Austin ranks among the top 10 public universities in the US. It offers bootcamps in Cloud Engineering and Al & ML for beginners and advanced learners.
• Colorado State University Pueblo. CSUP is famous for its undergraduate engineering program, which ranks as one of the top 100 in the country. By choosing CSUP, you can get certified in Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, AI & ML, Data Science & Analytics, and Web Development.
• Northeastern Illinois University. NEIU is ranked among the top 10 Midwest regional universities for economic and racial diversity in its student population. At NEIU you can get certified in AI & ML, Data Science & Analytics, Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Web Development.
• Santa Clara University. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit Jesuit university located in Santa Clara, California. Santa Clara University’s IT Bootcamps in AI & ML, Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science & Analytics, and Web Development can be attended by both beginners and existing tech professionals.
• California State University, Chico. CSU, Chico has more than 46 years of serving students in remote education. AI & ML, Data Science & Analytics, Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Web Development IT bootcamps are available for career switchers and experienced learners at CSU, Chico.
• UC Santa Barbara.  UC Santa Barbara is third in the prestigious University of California system. You can get certified with UC Santa Barbara in Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, AI & ML, Data Science & Analytics, and Web Development.
• Florida Atlantic University. FAU is in the top third of universities for social mobility. You can learn Cybersecurity, Cloud Engineering, and Web Development and get certified with FAU.
• Hofstra University. The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education place HOFSTRA in the top third of US colleges. Hofstra University offers bootcamps in AI & ML, Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science & Analytics, and Web Development.
• Texas Tech University. TTU is listed as the 107th of the best public university for 2022. You can get certified with Texas Tech University in Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science & Analytics, AI & ML, and Web Development.
• Wagner College. In the prestigious Regional Universities North list, Wagner College is placed #26. You can train in Cybersecurity, AI & ML, Data Science & Analytics, and Web Development and get certified with Wagner College. 
• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In the rankings for 2022, UT is one of the top 50 public universities. You can learn AI & ML, Data Science & Analytics, Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Web Development with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• Georgia Southern University. Georgia Southern University is among the top 300 national universities in the country. You can get certified in Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, AI & ML, and Data Science & Analytics by choosing Georgia Southern University.

Student Support

QuickStart has a multi-layered support system composed of instructors, mentors, and peers, who help students keep pace with their training. As Ali Syed, Director of Student Services at QuickStart, points out, QuickStart’s support system foresees different measures to help a learner stay on track.

QuickStart provides coaching, mentoring, one-on-one sessions with the academic support team, and supplemental learning materials for students who need additional academic support. For those who fall behind because of other life commitments, the support team organizes one-on-one sessions and tries to find the best solution for their case. If needed, the students are transferred to the next cohort.

Career Services

Beyond technical training, QuickStart also bakes comprehensive career services into all its educational programs. The goal is to support students in finding relevant jobs in the tech industry. QuickStart’s career services include the following:

• One-on-one student support. It comprises receiving personalized guidance to help you create a winning resume and LinkedIn profile, secure and ace job interviews, and remain consistent with your job search. Students receive access to one-on-one support once they are through 75 percent of your bootcamp training. This access remains for six months from your graduation.
  
• Office hours and educational group sessions. Have any questions about your career or job search? You can count on QuickStart to provide immediate feedback.
  
• Employer intros and referrals. To get hired, you’ll first need to get noticed. QuickStart gives you a leg up by connecting you with their growing list of hiring partners. These include Revature, Catalyte, SkillStorm, American Express, and AWS.
  
• Internship opportunities. An internship might do the trick if you want to further your practical experience and gain on-the-job training. Gain access to QuickStart’s employer network and be first in line for internship opportunities.
  
• Other career opportunities. QuickStart introduces fresh graduates to potential job opportunities from QuickStart’s train-to-hire staffing partners (Train-to-Hire employment) and the open market (Traditional employment).

A Strong Team of Experts

Behind QuickStart is a team of industry experts, IT specialists, mentors, coaches, support and career services assistants, and other dedicated staff. QuickStart’s instructors are among the top professionals in the IT sector, with backgrounds in areas like data science, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and more.

Upskill and Thrive in Tech with QuickStart

The skills gap persistently held down more than half of the global companies surveyed over the last five years, according to Statista. In 2021, 67 percent of organizations still predicted a tech skills gap. There are simply not enough skilled people to fill these companies’ jobs.

“We love our position of being at the center of helping people start and grow their IT careers and helping employers fill in-demand cyber, cloud, and developer jobs,” reveals Kenna.

In partnership with leading universities, QuickStart is working to bridge this gap by offering learners the chance to learn from bootcamps and earn certifications in the most in-demand fields like Cybersecurity, Cloud Engineering, AI and Machine Learning, Data Science and Analytics, and Web Development.

Are you ready to bridge your skills gap? Be indispensable with QuickStart.