Want a career with a promising outlook? Grow one with Google.
The tech giant launched a new round of tools Friday to assist military spouses with opportunities in remote work and information technology. As unemployment numbers continue to hover at 16% for those married to military members, Google created education and employment resources to address the issue. Among the offerings is a certificate program designed to help spouses land IT careers.
Computer and technology occupations are anticipated to grow 11% through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, will provide 1000 scholarships for spouses to complete the Google IT Professional Support Certificate through a partnership with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). Jacquelline Fuller, VP of Google.org, says this new announcement expands previous efforts by taking a look at the specific needs of a military spouse job seeker.
“Grow with Google is really focusing on thinking of groups who are left behind – or are at risk of being left behind – but for whom some of these programs can be tremendously helpful in terms of building their digital skills, helping them to launch an online business, helping them to consider roots like the IT support certificate,” she said.
Fuller adds this initiative is personal for her because she watched her own mother’s experience with Army life.
“I grew up in the military in a military family and we moved 17 times,” she said. “So, as a kid in one of these families, I think just seeing firsthand how difficult it can be on spouses and how important it is to have serious skills, opportunities and channels and ways to find remote work.”
Industry experts view tech jobs as a viable solution to ongoing employment woes facing spouses as there continues to be a staffing shortage with roughly 150,000 unfilled IT support jobs in the U.S., according to “Summary Demand and Requirements by Occupation,” Labor Insight Jobs, Burning Glass Technologies.
Google’s certificate program can fast-track applicants to career opportunities because it does not require a college degree and it can be completed in eight months. Upon completion, spouses have the option to connect with over a dozen employers seeking to fill IT support positions, including Home Depot, Bank of America, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Spouses interested in applying for the scholarship to access the Google IT Professional Support Certificate can access information on IVMF’s website.
Basic application requirements include proficiency in the English language, numeracy skills, a high school diploma or equivalent, an interest in the IT field, and the ability to commit to the course of study for a period of six months and eight to 10 hours per week, Fuller explained.
Additional resources from Google’s latest announcement
Work from home job search tool:
Spouses can search for jobs that meet career interests, like [customer support jobs] and then filter your location to ‘work from home’ to see a list of relevant job listings that meet these criteria. Whether the jobs are listed as “remote”, “work from home” or “telecommute” opportunities, this filter does the work for you, and helps you explore the opportunities available.
Online lessons:
“Connect and Collaborate Anywhere with Digital Tools” teaches remote workers tools and tricks to succeed in the digital office. On Primer, Grow with Google’s app for small businesses and job seekers, new lessons called “Finding or Transitioning to Remote Work,” “Keys to working remotely,” and “Collaborating while working remotely.”
Workshops:
Blue Star Families will provide in-demand digital skills training workshops throughout the next year.
Visit Grow with Google to learn more about the company’s efforts to support veterans and military spouses.
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