The West Virginia Coding Club recently had Ms. Jordan Castelloe, Program Director, NewForce, a program of Generation West Virginia as our guest speaker.
NewForce is a six-month, full-time, tuition-free coding school based out of Huntington, WV. In light of COVID-19, NewForce is currently remote.
Find more information at: http://www.newforce.co
Dan McElroy, President of WV Coding Club, explained, "The NewForce program is a great opportunity for West Virginians and resource for companies needing Coders. We support the work that Jordan and the NewForce staff are doing to help prepare West Virginia residents for Coding careers."
NewForce trains people with no prior coding experience, prepares them for their first tech job, and connects them with open, entry-level software development jobs in the Mountain State (West Virginia). NewForce is a full-time program and classes run from 9am-4pm Monday through Friday over Zoom teleconference. Technical Resume writing and Interview preparation is part of the program.
Software developers solve real-world problems with code. They build tools that make everyday people’s lives easier. This is an incredibly rewarding career field if you love solving problems, working on teams, and learning new things. NewForce trains people from all different backgrounds-- teachers, fast food workers, house painters, and accountants, just to name a few. Their graduates make a median salary of $44,000 right out of the program, with salaries ranging up to $90,000 for more senior developers in West Virginia.
NewForce believes that the tech industry will shape the future. They want West Virginians to have a place in that future. Through our immersive curriculum, NewForce students build applications for a mock company, collaborate on teams, and graduate with in-demand software development skills and direct connections to open jobs.
Applications are open to West Virginia residents only.
First half the program, students learn Front End development with languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React, then the second half they learn Back End development with languages like C# and SQL. The program runs five days a week for six months. with 30 students per year and 15 per six month cohort.
There is no typical student, with ages ranging from 20s to mid 50s. Two of the instructors are both graduates of the program. Also, a technical advisor to help provide industry insights. Jordan has been working remotely from North Carolina. for this West Virginia program.
Overall, 85% of graduates find work as junior developers within six months. Primarily graduates find Junior Developer jobs. Through this program there are 30 employers in WVthat provide opportunities for graduates. The average starting salaries are $45,000 - $50,000, but should increase over time as program graduates progress in their job or find future career opportunities.
Thank you Jordan for your work and efforts for our fellow West Virginians!
Keep Coding!