New Veterans Training Program Fulfills Dual Need: Jobs for Military Vets and Skilled Workers for High Tech Industry

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The program is a way for Bridge360 to show support for veterans returning from active duty, while at the same time close the employment gap companies have with testing their software applications and systems.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 19, 2014

Bridge360, an Austin-based software quality assurance company, has launch Veterans4Quality™ to accelerate training for returning veterans to enter the high tech profession. The free fast-track training program for returning veterans provides coursework and hands-on training to allow military veterans to transition into careers as software quality assurance engineers.

“You only have to catch the local news or talk with some of your colleagues to understand the shortage of skilled technology workers, even in the hot high tech environment of Austin. Everyone is scrambling to find the best employees and keep them,” said Bridge360 CEO Brenda Hall. “At the same time, you have leaders returning home from military service who are looking for careers in the private sector. We see it as a perfect match.”

Experts at Bridge360 have designed the quality assurance curriculum and on-the-job training program. Through a partnership with Park University, which promoted the program to its veteran students and is providing facilities and equipment, Bridge360 began teaching the initial class on April 28 with 20 students enrolled. Students will complete two months of coursework and a three-month paid on-the-job training program with industry leaders such as Whole Foods and Dell, which were early supporters of the program. Upon completion of the coursework and on-the-job training, students will receive a Software Quality Assurance Certificate.

“The Veterans4Quality program has been a vision of Bridge360’s for more than a year, and we were lucky enough to have our friends at Whole Foods and Dell to support us throughout the process and participate as guest lecturers and on-the-job training hosts,” explains Hall. “As a company, we are focused on bringing quality back to software. The program is a way for Bridge360 to show support for veterans returning from active duty, while at the same time close the employment gap companies have with testing their software applications and systems. After completion of the program, veterans will have the skills necessary to begin growing their careers in technology. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

The initial class provides a proof of concept for the program with plans to host the next class beginning in September. Bridge360 is currently enrolling students for the September class as well as recruiting companies to host on-the-job training programs.

“Our goal is that our quality assurance curriculum will be only the first part of this program. We are working with other organizations and collaborative companies to expand the curriculum to other technology disciplines as well,” said Hall.

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About Bridge360
Bridge360 is leading the charge to bring quality back to software, implementing quality solutions for clients throughout the entire software development lifecycle. This includes program management, architecture, design and development, testing and support and maintenance. By specializing in solving complex problems at every phase of the project, Bridge360 removes roadblocks to bring clients’ software and applications to any market with the highest level of quality.

The Bridge360 customer base includes world technology companies, leading system integrators, federal and state government agencies, and small to enterprise businesses across the globe that embrace the return on investment that quality brings to their business. Bridge360’s clients span industries from legal to healthcare, automotive to energy, and high tech to high fashion; all counting upon Bridge360 to clear a path for their success.

Bridge360 holds WBE certifications in Texas and New York. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas with an office in Beijing, China. Recent acclaims for the company have included 2013 listings on Inc. 5000, Software 500 and Austin Business Journal Top Women-Owned Businesses and Fast 50. Bridge360 was also the 2013 recipient of the International Service Award presented by GlobalAustin and the Austin Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, Bridge360 launched the Veterans4Quality program, a fast-track career-training program in software quality assurance provided for free to returning veterans.

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