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October 26, 2022CanCode Communities, Microsoft Team Up During ‘Mocktober’ to Help Prepare Next Generation of Software Professionals
CanCode Communities, a nonprofit organization training non-traditional talent for software career opportunities, is partnering with Microsoft to provide a unique learning venue for its students and alumni: mock job interviews that will help individuals learning new tech skills to also develop the soft skills needed to land a tech career.
In this first-of-its-kind program in upstate New York, Microsoft cloud solution architects, project managers, and account executives are serving as interview mentors for up to 60 current and former students of CanCode, which designs and delivers workforce training programs, hands-on coding programs, and digital literacy workshops in an effort to upskill individuals seeking career paths in tech.
The program is being conducted in conjunction with Microsoft’s annual Giving Campaign, which is held each October with a goal to Include, Learn and Inspire.
“We are grateful to Microsoft for its leadership and partnership in this innovative program, and we applaud its commitment to supporting the next generation of software professionals,” said CanCode Communities Founder and CEO Annmarie Lanesey. “Through these mock interviews, our students and alumni will gain valuable insights and build their network with Microsoft leaders on their path to pursuing careers in the software industry.”
“As a company that is passionate about delivering opportunities to upskill non-traditional tech talent, this partnership with CanCode Communities is especially significant,” said Kyle Bisnett, Microsoft Senior Product Manager, Azure Edge + Platform. “Aligned with our Giving Campaign mission to Include, Learn and Inspire, we are excited to share our expertise with CanCode’s students and alumni, and to help pave the way for future career opportunities.”
Four mock interview sessions are being held during “Mocktober,” all using the Microsoft Teams platform. Two have been completed: the first, with students in the JamestownCanCode Digital Literacy course, was held on October 6 and the second, for CanCode alumni, was held October 13. The remaining sessions will be conducted on October 24 for current students studying Front-End Web Development, and on October 25 for current students studying SQL.
CanCode Communities includes 8 entities in New York and Massachusetts, including AlbanyCanCode, KingstonCanCode, NewAmericansCanCode, SaratogaCanCode, HerkimerCanCode, NewYorkCanCode, JamestownCanCode, and BerkshiresCanCode. Its graduates, totaling more than 400 since 2016, have secured tech jobs with a host of leading employers – including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, New York State Office of Information Technology Services, MVP Healthcare, and Zones, among others – and received average annual salary increases exceeding $18,000.
