Start your journey with an apprenticeship.

Does this sound like you?

You've been working hard, learning to code, building projects, and maybe have earned a certificate or degree. However, transitioning from passionate learner to employed professional feels frustratingly out of reach.

Job descriptions often demand years of experience you don't have yet.

Our apprenticeship program is designed to bridge that gap. This program provides real-world experience, helps you gain experience on work-based projects, and connects you with industry professionals to increase your chances of landing a full-time tech job.

If this sounds like you, then apply now!

Our application and interview process is designed to determine whether you're ready for the program using consistent, fair, accommodating, and considerate practices. Don't let impostor syndrome tell you that your skills aren't good enough! Even if you aren't accepted, we'll provide feedback on what steps might be best for you to improve your skills - which would set you up for a high chance of acceptance in a future cohort!

No. There are no application fees, tuition, or materials to purchase once enrolled. No hidden costs - really!

Applicants must live in the USA and have done some prior learning about skills for the technology world. Our program is for folks early in their career who have found it difficult to gain the experience needed to get their first few jobs. 

There are no requirements for applicants to have specific education credentials or limits on advanced learners. Past apprentices range from totally self-taught to university degree holders. We consider not only the method of learning but also the quality of learning and an applicant's ability to learn more.

This program is not for individuals who want to learn to code but have not started. This program accepts individuals who have technology skills, but need real-world experience to begin their careers. We might have another learning opportunity if you fall into this category - keep reading for more info!

There are a few steps, so here's a general overview.

Video: Record a 3-5 minute video demonstrating at least one project you have actively contributed to or built yourself (see our demo video screening for an example).

Application: Fill out the application, which asks for information about yourself, your professional and learning history, and your video link.

Review: Our team reviews applications, and for eligible applicants, invites them to schedule interviews with our team.

Interviews: We conduct two interviews with prospective candidates - a technical interview and non-technical interview.

Employer host matching: We match accepted applicants with host employers where apprentices' existing skills will best fit those companies' hiring needs.

Once all our host employers' available apprentice roles are paired with an apprentice, the program begins!

Many of the folks who apply to our apprenticeship have already seen a variety of technical interview styles and perhaps been confused by some. Take a deep breath, applicants! You can rest assured that our interview process won't put you through a gauntlet of obscure trivia questions or hold you to some elite standard on a coding challenge.

When we do technical interviews for the apprenticeship program at Build Carolina, we are looking for one key aspect above all else: we want to see our applicants' abilities to learn and grow. After all, that's what our program is all about. Our technical interview process supports our collaborative, flexible approach to learning, so it's designed to help you feel comfortable so you can show us your best stuff. To that end, we use a standardized set of questions and coding challenges to help reduce interviewer bias so everyone has a fair shot. We don't expect you to know everything! We're not going to ask highly academic questions or hold you to a strict standard of earning some arbitrary rating on a coding challenge.

Learn more on our blog: A Short Guide to Technical Interviews at the Build Carolina Apprenticeship.

This program will require apprentices to be available Monday - Friday, from 9am - 5pm Eastern Time for 24 weeks (6 months). Your typical week will be broken into 2 virtual classroom days (Monday & Friday) and 3 days with your employer host (Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday).

While we understand that it's tough to do, we strongly recommend dedicating yourself full time to the apprenticeship program once accepted. Remember that the program involves working a full day at one of our host companies from Tuesday through Thursday for 21 weeks, which would be in direct conflict with another 9-5 job. On Monday and Friday apprentices spend a lot of time learning, from morning workshops to afternoon focus time completing exercises and working to complete a major project over the course of the 6-month program. Most folks would find it difficult to balance all that with even a part-time night job commitment, let alone full time work!

Yes. Develop Carolina is a federally registered apprenticeship program, which means each apprentice that completes the program will receive a Journeyworker Certification.

While we cannot guarantee you a job beyond the apprenticeship, we are committed to providing you with all the necessary resources and tools to gain employment in the field upon completing the program.

You may receive an offer of employment with your host company on (or shortly before) graduation, and you might even receive multiple offers! Like any job offer, these are subject to budget constraints and work availability.

Yes! Each apprentice will be paid a stipend by their assigned employer-host throughout the six month program

The 2 days each week spent in the “classroom” will be remote learning. However, dependent upon the employer host you are placed with and your location in the state, you may be asked to be remote or in-person for the 3 on-the-job days.

In addition to the real-world on-the-job training you’ll receive while working with your employer-host, you’ll spend time in the virtual classroom going through a range of topics!

You’ll also build a full-stack web application throughout the program.

Be flexible. In our experiences working with countless early career technologists, one of the biggest stumbling blocks we've seen is that many folks don't know what to expect on day one at the job. One common surprise: "I spent most of my week in meetings - I thought I'd be writing code!" or perhaps the opposite. Leave your expectations behind, stay excited about the work itself, and don't focus too much on what the day-to-day will look like.
Bring your curiosity. Be ready to put your brain in sponge mode, because there will be a lot of new information to soak up! That said, the apprenticeship can be intense, so it's important to remember to give yourself breaks, and try to keep a healthy balance between working hard and taking time for yourself. This is tough for most everyone, so we'll show you some strategies along the way!

Be collaborative. When you work with others through your project, in-class groups, and your company's team, you may run into conflicts - that's normal! Try to be empathetic, patient, understanding, constructive and supportive, and everyone will benefit in the end. Everyone has a bad day, and professional courtesy pays off!

Be positive. Keep a positive attitude, maintain your motivation to learn and stay driven to succeed, and we'll show you how to reach your goals!

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