Finding an entry-level tech role is harder than it has ever been. According to recent reporting from Forbes, there has been a 73% drop in salaried job openings since 2022, and the unemployment rate for new college graduates is nearly 6%, higher than the overall rate of 4.1%. Many roles ask for at least one year of field experience, including entry-level roles. How are aspiring tech professionals supposed to get that experience if they’re struggling to get an entry-level position in the first place?
As Bill Mastin, CEO of Cadient, told Forbes, 27% of U.S. employment requires a two- or four-year degree, but rarely do companies offer jobs where that is all that’s needed. Now, experience is more relevant than ever. To help you get that experience, we’ve compiled this list of eight of the best resources for entry-level tech professionals in Kansas City.
1. i.c. stars
Here at TriCom, we’re directly involved with i.c. stars because we believe in its great mission. This is a robust, accessible program that reskills culturally diverse talent from non-traditional backgrounds into various tech fields. They focus their efforts on helping underserved young adults in cities throughout the U.S., and we’re fortunate to have a program right here in KC.
As a nonprofit, their work centers on providing young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds with tuition-free, technology-focused workforce development through internships, leadership training, and even job placements.
2. Centriq Training
Located right off State Line and 92nd, Centriq offers hands-on training in numerous information technology (IT) fields. Centriq is a tuition-based technical school that provides education in subjects such as:
- Cybersecurity
- HTML
- Cloud platforms
- Project and process management
- Cisco and networking
- Microsoft 365
- Software development
In addition, you can also receive a wide array of CompTIA certifications here, including A+, Network+, and Security+, all of which are essential for many tech roles. They can help you with upskilling and reskilling to evolve with the rapidly changing world of tech.
3. EnterpriseKC
EnterpriseKC offers something called Heartland Cyber Range, a program for those interested in cybersecurity. It’s a sandbox in which aspiring IT professionals can build work samples and get hands-on education. Users can also filter the modules and courses by skill level, so even if you have zero cybersecurity experience, you can get started with a slate of introductory courses designed to introduce you to the fundamentals.
This nonprofit also bills itself as a “think and do” tank geared toward economic development and regional prosperity for the greater Kansas City metro. Based in Leawood, Kansas, EnterpriseKC collects real-time data from various industries, many of which fall under the broader tech umbrella. You can browse relevant insights and key figures for KC-focused market research in scannable, digestible “clusters,” as EKC calls them. These include statistics in:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Architecture and engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Financial services
- Physical and life sciences
You can even filter the data based on specific parts of Kansas and Missouri to find the exact numbers you’re searching for. Additionally, the organization offers a Collegiate Student Ambassador program and an EKC scholarship that focuses on both the high-school pipeline and those pursuing higher education. This can be a great way to learn more about the particular industry and the local market you’re interested in.
4. WeCode KC
This organization, as its name suggests, helps youth and young adults learn more about technology, specifically coding languages. Although WeCode KC has a heavy focus on children (ages 7-17), they also have a program aimed at adults ages 18-26. Code & Conquer, the program in question, offers hands-on certification prep and direct pathways to employment.
Specialized tracks in cybersecurity, JavaScript, database management, and HTML/CSS are all available so you can learn the skills requisite for an IT career. Across these courses, participants can earn stipends, take free certified exams, and receive job placement support for internships and entry-level roles.WeCode KC is a nonprofit that offers earn-while-you-learn programs.
5. Per Scholas Kansas City
This national nonprofit provides technical skills training through tuition-free courses, and their programs have been in operation for over 30 years now. More than 35,000 graduates have earned myriad certifications, plus received professional development and job-seeking aid for tech careers.
Per Scholas has many locations across the nation, including one right here in Kansas City. As of this writing, students in the KC metro and western Missouri can enroll in courses centered on:
- Systems support
- Hands-on infrastructure management
- Data center administration
- Cybersecurity
- Operations and custom report analysis
- Threat response and remediation
- Data engineering
- End-to-end BI solutions
- PL-300 certification
6. LaunchCode
This nonprofit has been providing free technical training and job placement since its founding in 2013. In those 13 years, LaunchCode has placed 4,000+ people at 500+ companies, including Mastercard, Boeing, Broadcom, and Cigna. They offer a cost-free, four-week online course designed for people with no technology experience to learn about software development. It’s self-paced, and teaches students about JavaScript fundamentals, Boolean logic and debugging, developer tools, and more.
7. NPower Missouri
As a national nonprofit organization, NPower has locations all over the country, and one of their offices is located in Missouri. Although it’s located in St. Louis, aspiring technologists in KC can still participate in NPower’s online courses, all of which are free. Classes occur twice a year, and you’ll need to apply for consideration. Through NPower Missouri, young adults can learn about tech fundamentals, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Students will also receive mentoring from senior IT professionals and engage in employment readiness workshops.
8. Johnson County Community College
Even if you don’t have the time or means to take a full semester’s worth of college classes, you can still enroll in tuition-based IT programs, including CompTIA certification prep. For example, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) offers a bevy of IT courses, all of which are three credit hours. They include:
- CompTIA A+ Core 1 and 2
- Introduction to Networks
- Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials
- Google Cloud Fundamentals
- AWS Cloud Foundations
- AI Solutions in Azure
- Microsoft Administration Fundamentals
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- IT Scripting
- Enterprise Networking, Security and Automation
- Network Security Fundamentals
- Linux Fundamentals
- Windows Server Hybrid Administration
There are many resources out there if you’re an aspiring tech professional, and these are just eight of them. Like the organizations and programs that we’ve listed above, we are also here for you if you’re looking to make a career move and land an entry-level role in IT. To learn more about how TriCom can help you make some inroads into the tech landscape, contact us online today. We’d love to help you find the best role out there.