Bridge to IT Careers
(formerly known as Fast Track Tech Jobs)
Bridge to IT Careers is a professional bridging program offered in collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Employment Ontario and Seneca College.
About the Program
This 12- to 16-week bridge training program offers a condensed and modern approach to skills development for internationally trained professionals seeking career opportunities in the general information technology (IT), cloud computing, and data science sector. The program covers pre-employment and essential skills in Canada, as well as hands-on technical training that helps shape careers in the cloud computing and big data industries. This program is for residents of Ontario.
Program Benefits
- Learn about the Canadian IT/cloud computing/big data landscape and the legislated rules and policies relevant to working in Canada.
- Explore the various job families and related positions in these disciplines in both the public and private sectors in Canada.
- Refresh and fill in the gaps in skills and competencies related to the concepts of general IT, cloud computing, data analytics, and big data.
- Integrate and apply learning through a capstone project where participants work in groups to present design solutions and recommendations at an executive level.
- Participate in a placement/internship at a Canadian organization to enrich real-life experience and apply the skills learned during the bridge program.
- Develop foundation and skills for certification in general IT, cloud computing, big data, and analytics (for example, Azure certification, data analytics certificate, and Certified Analytics Professional).
- Complete training as a student of Seneca Polytechnic and affiliate with various IT, cloud computing, and big data companies in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Canada.
- Gain access to participate in mentoring programs and connect with leading recruitment and hiring professionals.
- Attend weekday classes, leaving weekends open for other professional development and life responsibilities.
Program Eligibility
- Be at least 18 years old and a resident of Ontario.
- Have an appropriate combination of both international training and international work experience in IT, cloud computing, or big data.
- Have appropriate language proficiency at or equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 or higher.
- Be one of the following:
- Permanent resident
- Naturalized Canadian citizen
- Approved provincial nominee under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (excluding those under the International Student stream)
- Refugee claimant with a 900-series Social Insurance Number (SIN) and an open work permit
- Visitor under emergency travel measures enacted by the federal government (for example, Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel) with a 900-series Social Insurance Number (SIN) and an open work permit
- Individual on a temporary work permit who has received confirmation from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that they meet the eligibility requirements for permanent residence (for example, approval in principle)
Program Delivery & Duration
Hybrid (Online and In-person)-weekday program so that participants can participate in other professional development opportunities during weekends!
This program includes eight weeks of training:
- Week 1: Pre-employment and Job Search (Part 1)
- Week 2: Introduction to Cloud Computing and Azure
- Week 3: Python Programming and Data Analysis
- Week 4: Machine Learning and AI on Azure
- Week 5: Advanced AI and Azure AI Services
- Week 6: Final Project and Presentation
- Week 7: Azure AZ900/AI 900 Exam Preparation
- Week 8: Pre-employment and Job Search (Part 2)
- The sequence of the topics covered in a certain week may change; however, the scope and total training remain the same.
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Additional Program Details
Scope of learning
- The IT landscape in Canada, including cloud computing and big data sector
- IT job families and their characteristics, including general IT, cloud computing, and big data sector
- The skills assessment matrix for the IT, cloud computing, and big data sector
- Preparing for IT, cloud computing, and big data sector interviews
- Introduction to specialized IT, cloud computing, and big data sector positions
Program Fee
There is a fee for this program, however, participants may be eligible for Ontario Bridge Training Program Bursaries. Please contact our staff for further details by phone (416) 741-8714 or email Bridge.BCCD@YMCAGTA.ORG.
For more information about this program or to register please call (416) 741-8714 or email Bridge.BCCD@YMCAGTA.ORG