Over the past couple of years the workforce has been an interesting place. We have heard that there are not enough workers for some jobs. Or that some are just working too hard. But, one thing is for sure, the world is still moving along. And that means that there needs to be qualified workers to well… run the world. RE:WORK Training is helping with some of that.
I have worked in tech most of my adult life. When I first started, there were not many women, and not many brown faces. This has been something we have heard about for many, many, many years. And over the past couple of years, being a person of color has had an even more impactful meaning… in one than one way. In some ways, being BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) is a hot commodity right now.
Things have gotten better, but the tech workforce is still not as diverse as it could be. The same is true of tech sales. I actually tried tech sales at one point. That may have gone much better for me if I would have been equipped with the proper training, but I wasn’t. So, I quickly realized that was not my ministry. LOL! I am much better on the technical side. But, for some… being equipped with that training can be life-changing.
Celebrating 5 Years of Tech Sales Placement
Not too long ago I attended the RE:WORK 5th anniversary event. They celebrated 5 years of helping candidates in underprivileged communities get valuable training to get positions in tech sales working for some top companies. Companies and volunteers were awarded for their work over the past few years dedicating their time and expertise to the program.
I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the people behind RE:WORK. Shelton Banks, CEO, talked about the mission, how the company came about, and the importance of helping those that came from a similar background to do better. And, he has some dance moves. LOL!
I also met with Blake Hudson, Director of Sales Enablement, who talked about the unconventional way that he was onboarded to the team after being stalked on social media by Shelton. I loved the story! And it just goes to show you… someone is always watching!
The History of RE:WORK Training
RE:WORK was established in 2016. It is a non-profit that offers free training in tech sales to members of overlooked and untapped communities. The RE:WORK mission is to create workplaces that actually reflect the diversity of our neighborhoods. This is not something we always see in the workplace… this is especially true of the tech sector. RE:WORK aims to change that by providing job training and placement to Black and LatinX individuals. They are on a mission to help over 25,000 people in underserved communities get much needed jobs in the field of tech sales.
So, How Does RE:WORK… Work?
Interested candidates can apply on the RE:WORK website. Once accepted, candidates get help with curating the perfect resume, mentorship, and career and sales skills. The program provides a foundation for acquiring a job at an average salary of 55k with full benefits. The company has made a real impact on the city of Chicago. Since 2016, they have placed close to 200 candidates in jobs with companies such as Linkedin, Docusign, CDW, Sprout Social, and Mirro. Candidates make a combined salary of over 16 million dollars.
What is Tech Sales?
As explained in the below video by RE:WORK Training CEO, Shelton Banks, tech sales is the important connection between those that create the software and technology that we are used to seeing, and those that use it. For example… Salesforce creates CRM software. However, how do companies that need the software get it? How do they learn which version is right for them? That is where the tech sales position comes in.
If you are interesting in becoming a candidate, volunteering or donating to the cause visit the RE:WORK Training website for more information.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by RE:WORK. All opinions are my own.
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