This article was written by Exelaration and sponsored by Arlington Economic Development.
On April 23, 2024, Sydney Hanley received a phone call from her hometown of Arlington that interrupted breakfast at her sister’s Boston apartment. Little did she know that this call marked the end of her long job search. Five years earlier, her journey began with one suggestive question: “Why not try a coding class?”
She tried that and much, much more.
The Arlington Talent Program (ATP)
The Arlington Talent Program was established to address a crucial issue: the reluctance of employers to hire inexperienced candidates for high-demand tech jobs. Partnering with engineering firm Exelaration, Arlington Economic Development created a program to connect tech-savvy residents with paid trainee positions to build real software. This hands-on experience is essential for launching IT careers.
Now in its fourth semester, the ATP has trained and employed 25 residents. “We’ve enrolled an Uber driver, a grocery stock worker, a flight attendant and a veteran, just to name a few,” says Exelaration CEO Steve Cooper. “Clients want employees with real job experience, and Arlington is listening.”
Cybersecurity Focus
This semester, ATP is focusing on cybersecurity. “Arlington businesses need to secure their data, and not all have the infrastructure or knowledge,” says Cooper. The program will offer free cybersecurity checkups to Arlington and Alexandria businesses through July, providing graduates with valuable experience.
Sydney’s Journey
Sydney Hanley’s story illustrates the program’s impact. In 2019, she began her freshman year at the University of San Francisco without a tech background. Following her mom’s advice, she took a computer science class and excelled, becoming a teaching assistant the next semester. However, her path was not smooth. The pandemic disrupted her studies, and her job offer was rescinded just before graduation.
Back in her hometown of Arlington and unemployed, Sydney applied for numerous jobs with little success. Last fall, she discovered an ATP job opening through an ARLnow article and was accepted into the spring 2024 semester. After completing the program, she interviewed for a position at a small education technology company.
“The tech interview matched one of our Exelaration projects almost exactly,” she recalls. Her experience from ATP prepared her well, and she received a job offer six days later.
“I started May 6!” Sydney excitedly shared with the ATP team recently, crediting the program for providing the crucial job experience she needed. “The Arlington Talent Program adds that final critical ingredient — real job experience — to someone who already has everything else,” says Cooper.
Get Involved
Businesses interested in a free cybersecurity checkup can email [email protected]. Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
