ServiceNow Australia, the digital workflow company, has announced a commitment to train 1,000 people in digital skills by the end of 2022. Several initiatives have been launched to meet the target, including a free, 40‑hour per week, 9‑week digital bootcamp, with 100 places starting in August.
The digital‑skills bootcamp is open to anyone interested in entering the tech industry, including recent graduates looking for their first job, those returning to work after career breaks, or people looking for a career‑change.
Skills gaps
“The data is clear: Australia has a critical shortage of digital skills. Every day, I hear from our customers and partners that attracting skilled talent is a top priority. By broadening paths into the tech industry, this commitment will help build the nation’s tech talent pool,” says Eric Swift, Vice President and Managing Director, ServiceNow Australia and New Zealand.
Recent estimates from Australia’s 2021 Digital Economy Strategy found that 87% of jobs now require digital skills. On top of this, a 2022 report from Hays found that 91% of the local technology industry is struggling with skills shortages, and in the next 12 months, 90% of employers believe the tech skills shortage will impact the effective operation or growth plans of their organisation.
To increase job prospects for participants, ServiceNow has worked with its customers and partners to line up potential employers. Several organisations have registered entry‑level roles for bootcamp participants to apply to, some of which were created specifically to match the training provided. Currently, more than 70 percent of the ASX200 are customers of ServiceNow, in addition to more than 100 local, state, and federal government departments and agencies.
“We have designed this intensive 9‑week program to be open to anyone, so it can kick‑start your career. With more than 350 hours of free guided training in two months, it will give people all the tools they need to get started in the tech industry,” says Swift.
High‑paid, high‑skilled roles
The program includes instructor‑led classes, hands‑on projects, and careers skills training. Successful participants receive industry‑recognised certifications as a ServiceNow Certified System Administrator and Certified Application Developer. In 2021‑22 report by technology recruitment firm Nelson Frank, average Australian salaries for junior ServiceNow Administrators and ServiceNow Developers were AUD$90,000.
Applicants to the digital bootcamp do not need any previous tech experience or educational qualifications. The bootcamp program falls under ServiceNow’s NextGen training program, which has a mandate to assist those traditionally marginalised from the field of tech to help them find employment within the ServiceNow job market.
The bootcamp is the third NextGen program launched in Australia, following a partnership with TAFE NSW, which includes on‑the‑job learning with TAFE education; and an initiative with Community Corporate, which will upskill 65 refugees through a digital skills training program run by ServiceNow, followed by industry job‑placements at Woolworths, Accenture, and other ServiceNow customers and partners. ServiceNow is also currently offering the ServiceNow Fundamentals training course for free until 31 August 2022.
