January Rodgers had not considered changing careers before enrolling in NPower\u2019s 20-week tech fundamentals program.<\/p>\n
While serving in the U.S. Army and working as a teacher, she saw technology become a bigger part of the world. She wanted a job that reflected that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI jumped on the chance to learn about technology,\u201d Rodgers said. \u201cI never really understood how a lot of that worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Thursday, she participated in NPower\u2019s mock interview event, where local volunteers, companies and hiring professionals practice interviews with students. It\u2019s part of a free 20-week course that provides professional development, technology training and certifications to prepare students for entry-level IT jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have a passion, if you want a career and role in tech, this is the place for you\u201d said Meranda Soriano, NPower\u2019s site director.<\/p>\n
The program focuses on young adults aged 18-26, as well as veterans and service members\u2019 spouses.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of veterans come to us and they have a robust background, but they\u2019re not sure how to translate it into a civilian role,\u201d Soriano said. \u201cNPower serves almost like a bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n
In its two years in San Antonio, NPower has had 84% of its students complete the program, said Development Coordinator Alexis Moore. Students who don\u2019t complete the course can also still complete certifications along the way. Its last cohort had a job placement rate of 52% of students who secured full-time tech employment.<\/p>\n
NPower is a nationwide organization, Soriano said, and started operating in San Antonio in 2023. Since then, it\u2019s served 331 people, about half young adults, half veterans or military spouses.<\/p>\n
Applicants go through two rounds of interviews and then join a spring or fall cohort of between 55 and 60 students taking daily online classes and earning certificates from Google, Adobe and IT industry groups.<\/p>\n
Rodgers said the fast-paced class was challenging at first. She\u2019s learned more about how to troubleshoot and solve technology problems and how internet and device networks operate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot, it comes fast,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a little overwhelming, but they encouraged me to stick it out and now it\u2019s coming a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the only part of the course.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin those 20 weeks, there\u2019s a technology portion where they\u2019re getting certifications,\u201d Soriano said. \u201cBut there\u2019s also the professional development portion.\u201d<\/p>\n