Audience: Voices

In July 2022, Jose Eduardo Madrigal graduated from the Solar Panel Installation pilot program in Cordoba. He has vast experience in the electricity sector and, after being laid off, decided to join the training offered by Fundación Generation Spain, in partnership with Blackrock and Fundación Magtel.

What was your situation before starting Generation Spain’s Solar Panel Installation program?

I had just been laid off after my company went bankrupt and dismissed all its employees.

Before the program, how did you envision your professional future in the next few years?

Very negatively due to my age. I am currently 56 years old and ever since I was 45 I started being rejected in interviews because the employers were looking for younger profiles.

What expectations did you have during the selection process? What were your expectations regarding the program?

When I was asked about the commitment I have to finalize the course, I assured the interviewers that, if I was selected, I would put my job search on hold, because I had an unemployment subsidy, and that I would commit 100% to finalize the course.

Do you think that the program has helped you to specialize in the sector of photovoltaic panel installation? Which learnings have been the most useful?

Regarding solar energy, which is not only electricity, I did not know about the importance of orientation, inclinations, timing, effects of the temperature or types of structure to obtain the maximum benefits of solar energy. Through this program I learned many new notions.

Are you currently employed? If yes, where? And are you happy in your new role?

Yes, Magtel selected me to do an apprenticeship in their operations department. When I finished the apprenticeship, they offered me the chance to continue working full-time.

Our day-to-day work is very diverse, but always connected to the energy sector. I don’t install solar panels, but if needed, I am trained to do it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Have your expectations changed?

I don’t know and I find it difficult to think about it. I always say that I go where the future takes me. In this case, I thought of the Solar Panel Installation program as an interesting learning opportunity for me and at the moment I would like to continue growing in this sector. At Magtel, there is a great working environment and I am happy to be a part of this organisation.

Would you recommend the program to other people who are unemployed or to people who are currently facing difficulties in their jobs?

Yes, without a doubt. But one must not be confused: this is not a program that guarantees a job after graduation. However, it supports you in getting a foot in the door with various employers and also by offering you mentorship after graduating from the program.

Read this story in Spanish here

Alone in a new country

Fatima emigrated to the United Kingdom from Guinea at 15 years old, on her own. She was placed into the foster care system and embarked on learning English and starting her life again from scratch.

Academics were challenging. Given her foreign educational background and language barrier, she was not able to catch up soon enough to take A-levels or apply to a university degree. When a foster care charge turns 18, she explains, “you’re just like, dumped into adult life.” She had to find a place to live, find a job, and figure out life in a new country on her own. She had no one to support her. “I had to rely on myself solely,” she told us.

Fatima always had a strong interest in technology. She applied for a competitive apprenticeship with Accenture and was shocked (given her lack of educational qualifications) when she was accepted.

She stayed with the company for three years, but ultimately wanted a more technical role. She took a big leap of faith and quit her job to commit herself to a fulltime search.

Then COVID happened.

The whole country went into lockdown. “I saw on TV all the people that had been put onto furlough and I thought … that’s it. I’m never going to find any job.”

Without family or a support system of any kind to back her up, Fatima’s situation was urgent.

Finding Generation

Fatima described allowing herself moments of despair and loneliness, but she wouldn’t let herself stay there. “You have to stop, and find a solution,” she’d tell herself. Then one day into what seemed like an endless foray online to find work amid the global pandemic and economic free-fall (and without a college degree), she came across an ad for Generation.

Despite her hard-working nature and talent for coding, the program was intense, Fatima told us. Every day there was a new coding challenge to contend with, and new skills to learn. Her persistence got her through it — but so did Generation mentors, who would call her regularly to check in. Their encouragement made a crucial difference in her ability to stay on task, even when the full time program felt difficult or overwhelming.

A new life

Upon graduating in 2020, Generation connected her with a few different companies with open positions in software engineering. They were Facebook, The Financial Times and DePop.

Fatima became a software engineer with DePop. While she had worked hard to get there, it still felt like a miracle. “From the day I got a place in the Generation program, to attending the bootcamp, to applying for a job, to now I’m working full time with a great company; I never left my house. Everything was fully online.”

Fatima could move forward with her life, knowing that she not only has a way of paying all her bills, but is moving in the direction of her chosen career. She began volunteering evenings and weekends with a nonprofit that supports young adults who have aged out of foster care.

“Generation, I would say, has changed my life. I’m working towards achieving everything I ever wanted to. And that’s in large part, due to me being in the program and building up that confidence that I can work in the technology industry.”

Where is Fatima now?

Fatima worked as a Junior Software Engineer for three years at DePop, a multinational digital marketplace. After a successful stint in software engineering, she transitioned into project management and recently accepted a position within the UK Government Department’s Home Office as a Project Support officer. 

From small tobacco seller to a job with one of India’s mega retail giants, Rahul has had an inspiring journey.

Humble beginnings

With a gleaming ray of hope in his eyes, Rahul rode his bicycle for many kilometers to sell tobacco in the town of Barrackpore, 30 kilometers away from Kolkata, India. He did this every day in order to generate enough income to support his family. However, his wage was barely enough to support himself.

Before the pandemic, Rahul’s father worked at a local grocery shop, and his mother went from house to house to cook food. However, when the pandemic struck, his father lost his job, and Rahul’s daily errands to sell tobacco came to a halt. During those challenging days, the family was barely making ends meet.

Finding a fulfilling career

Despite all odds, Rahul had a strong desire to do more with his life, yet he was not able to find a way to fulfill his true potential. He had a good work ethic and the right attitude, but he couldn’t find trustworthy platforms to help him grow and rise above his circumstances. Rahul had an aspiration to study hotel management, but he discontinued his studies after completing high school, due to his family’s financial struggles.

One day he ran into Generation India’s leaflet, which advertised the Retail Sales Associate program. At first, he couldn’t believe that the program was entirely free-of-cost. Later, when he started the program, the tides started to shift in his life for the better, and he began to see what he was truly capable of achieving.

Generation India prepared him for employment and successfully placed him in a job at Tata’s Westside chain of outlets in Hyderabad, within ten days of graduating from his program.
“Generation India helped me with hands-on training and practical skills like talking to customers and preparing for interviews with potential employers. I got a job after completing the program and I want to thank Generation for this opportunity.”

Supporting loved ones

“I would recommend the Generation program to all those who have financial challenges at home, because after joining their program my life changed for the better.”

Today, Rahul is not only successful professionally, but he has also been able to meet his goal of supporting his family and contributes 50% of his earnings to their financial needs. He now has eight months of successful work experience in India’s retail sector and he sees many opportunities to develop in this space.

Searching for a path

After graduating from high school, Dasha did not attend college due to financial and health constraints.

“I really didn’t have any goals, and I feel like I didn’t have those goals because I didn’t have opportunities,” Dasha says.

And so, at age 24, Dasha found herself working as a curb-side shopper at a local grocery store, making a meager wage that did not meet her needs. She wanted more, and she fed her love of learning by spending most of her free time in the local public library, reading.

“I felt stuck. I just didn’t want to work at the store forever. I wanted a career but I didn’t have a degree. I wanted a change,” she recalls.

Finding Generation USA

During the pandemic, she decided to take action. She researched alternative career programs and found Generation USA. She applied and was accepted.

“I didn’t know tech bootcamps even existed,” she told us. The thing she appreciated the most about her Generation experience was being able to do hands-on work that closely mirrored a real-world professional environment. She could really understand the potential pathways opening up to her and the career options she’d have upon graduation.

However, Dasha struggled with severe anxiety around public speaking, especially during interviews. With the support of the Generation team and the confidence she found in her new skillset, Dasha’s nervousness began to evaporate. And, with the help of Generation, she developed a resume she was really proud of. “I really enjoy updating my resume and writing cover letters. I guess because now I know how to do it.”

Living a new life

Today, Dasha is one of 25,000+ Generation learners who put in the hard work, took a risk, and transformed their lives during the pandemic.

“At Generation USA I felt like I could do anything. I took everything I learned from the module on resume skills and interview skills. I saved all my work [during the program], made a portfolio, and after graduating I got an internship.” As she was completing the Generation program, Dasha discovered the Web Development Internship at Google, applied, and was accepted.

Dasha reflects, “If I think back to a year from today, now I’m a completely different person. I never thought I’d be in this field or growing this much in my career. If I hadn’t been through the Generation program, I’d probably still be a curbside shopper. This is all thanks to Generation.”

MANY BARRIERS TO THE LIFE SHE WANTED

Ayesha’s mother married at a young age and was forced to abandon her own academic pursuits. “A typical marriage means you have no personal life, you have no career,” Ayesha explained. But her mother was determined to make sure that her daughters avoided the same fate. “She doesn’t want the same life for us. She wanted us to study.”

That dream seemed unlikely after Ayesha’s father passed away, leaving her family with only a small pension to live off of. There was barely enough money to survive, much less pay expensive university fees. But Ayesha, like her mother, was determined to be independent. She worked diligently and managed to secure a scholarship in order to attend university and pursue a software engineering bachelor’s degree. Even still, she had to commute four hours daily to and from her hometown for school. “It was a tough time,” she shared, “but I like studying so much, so I worked hard for it.”

Despite graduating with a degree in software engineering, Ayesha struggled to find a job in her desired field. She was missing the crucial soft skills and experience that could make her stand out in a competitive field. “I struggled a lot to find a job, or to find an institute from where I could learn the things in which I was weak.”

THE LAST MILE TO LANDING HER DREAM JOB

When Ayesha discovered and was admitted to Generation’s Unity developer program, it was like she had finally found the missing piece in her education. “It fills my gaps of knowledge,” she shared. She was surrounded by peers and mentors who helped her to build her confidence as a developer and answer her questions. “My instructors … clearly explain each and everything. I am able to talk with other developers about the technical points.”

In addition to helping Ayesha hone her technical skills, Generation helped to connect her to potential employers – before the program had even ended. “Through Generation, I have an interview call from Frag Games” she said. “After two days, I received a job offer.”

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Ayesha now works as a Unity Engineer at Frag Games. She was emotional when she told us how her mother reacted to the news. “She fell out of tears. She hugged me … She is so proud,” Ayesha shared. She had finally fulfilled her and her mother’s shared dream of being able to support herself through a fulfilling career.

Working at Frag Games has completely changed Ayesha’s finances, and by extension her family’s. “Now I will do work and support my family,” she told us. She largely credits landing this opportunity with her time at Generation. “Generation was the best thing I can say that happened to me,” she shared. “It is the best step of my life.”

A HARD TIME IS EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC

Rodrigo struggled to find a well-paying job after graduating with a degree in Electronics Design and Software Engineering. While many of his classmates had been able to take internships and gain professional experience while in school, Rodrigo had been working an additional job to pay his tuition. This gap on his resume was a major roadblock, despite having significant skills and know-how in his field. He had little choice but to settle for a teaching job at the same university he graduated from, making “a very, very miserable salary,” while feeling that he was not moving forward in his career.

“It became very demoralizing,” he shared. “I had a lot of abilities, I knew how to use a lot of tools, but because of the experience I had my CV was overlooked.”

There were times he could barely afford gas for his car. “At the end of the month, I sometimes even had to take out loans.” He continued to accumulate debt and felt deeply stuck. “It was very despairing,” he shared.

When the pandemic began in March 2020, it seemed increasingly unlikely that Rodrigo would be able to find the kind of job he was looking for. At a loss, he moved home to live with his parents and save money.

“I had no idea what to do…I was really looking for a way out,” he said.

TRANSFORMATION DURING A DIFFICULT TIME

It was just in the nick of time that Generation opened its first online course in Guadalajara, Mexico. He applied and began an intensive three-month course in the middle of quarantine.

The interdisciplinary nature of the course surprised him. “At first I thought it was just a technical bootcamp,” he shared. “But it was also all the soft skills — organization, logic — that are applicable to software engineering.” Despite being fully online, he found himself in a community of like-minded individuals, who all helped each other grow and succeed. “I cried a lot at first…It was so heartwarming to know that these people were there to help us.”

Generation also helped Rodrigo to freshen up his resume and LinkedIn profile while bolstering his interview skills. As soon as he updated his LinkedIn profile at the suggestion of his Generation mentors, he was recruited via LinkedIn for an interview at a company he had longed to work for. During the interview process, he drew on his training at Generation. “They taught us in the interviews to communicate who we are, what we do…how to tell my story. When I started doing everything they taught me, I got hired at the company I am working for right now.”

FREE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD

Rodrigo now works as a Component Engineer at SnapEDA. “My salary is way more than I was expecting,” he shared.

Rodrigo’s new position has finally given him the kind of financial stability and growth opportunity he had been working so hard to find. “I wouldn’t have gotten into this company if I wouldn’t have gotten into Generation,” he told us.

One of the things Rodrigo has dreamed about for fifteen years was taking a trip around the world. In a few months as of this writing, Rodrigo plans to leverage his fully remote job contract with SnapEDA to do just that. He will continue working remotely, with the blessing of his company, and to visit some of his colleagues in Europe and Latin America.

“Generation has given me the ability to explore who I am and what the future has in store for me.”

Lives on the line

Abu comes from a low income family in a small town in Pakistan. His parents invested the last of their meager savings to put him through college at the local university, where he majored in computer science.

His family expected him to get a good-paying job right away, but as graduation day approached, Abu began to see how unrealistic that was. He already knew many classmates who had graduated in years prior who were still unemployed.

Once graduated, a very difficult period began for Abu. For years, the family had sacrificed, waiting for him to finish his studies and find work as a technology professional. Yet despite sending over a hundred CVs to various tech companies all over Pakistan, he received no word back from prospective employers.

If he failed to find a well-paying job, his parents would have nothing to invest in his younger brother’s education and the reminders that he must find a job were constant. As the months wore on with no hope in sight, and economic pressures on the family continued to rise, he became extremely distressed.

But Abu isn’t the kind who gives up easily. When he realized that the local university had left him ill-equipped for the modern world of tech, he began upskilling himself using free and low cost YouTube tutorials and online courses. After a 12-hour day in a low-paid teaching job, he spent nights researching web development, Android development, and ultimately gaming. It was gaming that caught his eye the most. And it was in the course of researching that industry that he came across Generation.

“I was a fresh university graduate, desperately searching for a job to support my family. I was basically at the lowest point in my life. This is when I saw an advertisement about Generation Pakistan’s Game Developer program. And, since I was a passionate gamer ever since I can remember, I decided to give it a shot. Three months later, I was graduating with enough skills to land an interview, which I aced. My career in the gaming industry began thanks to Generation.”

Rebuilding his idea of self

By the time he began the program, Abu was not only unemployed, but psychologically depleted. He felt that his family was counting on him and that he had let them down. He didn’t see his talent or his hard work, but only that he hadn’t found a job yet, and that his family was waiting. While his passion for gaming was strong, his faith in himself had weakened.

Because Generation’s mission is to train and place candidates into careers that would otherwise be inaccessible, a core dimension of our approach is to address the structural barriers to employment. Helping people who have faced unfair barriers to employment overcome undeserved feelings of guilt and shame is part of that work. Our behavioral and mindset curriculum helped Abu reframe his difficulty in finding work as an external barrier rather than a personal failing, and encouraged him instead to focus on his innate strengths and capacity for growth.

Improvements in his outlook, coupled with a rigorous technical curriculum (in Abu’s case on the Unity Game Development Software), ensured that someone with his aptitude and eagerness to learn and work would instantly thrive.

Winning the game of life

As graduation day from Generation approached, our Partnerships team connected Abu with various employers and he received a job offer before the program had officially ended.

A month after beginning his new job, with a salary that allows him to meet all his basic needs and send money home, a catastrophe happened. His father suffered a debilitating stroke. Because Abu was able to immediately send a large sum of money home, his father was able to receive treatment at a private hospital. His family now fully credits his father’s ability to walk and speak to Abu and his hard work.

While Abu has many dreams for the future, and the world of gaming is replete with growth opportunities, for the moment, he is focused on the present. He loves his job, his colleagues and life as an independent young person in Lahore. And his paycheck is pretty good, too.

Abu says, “Generation changed my life. I can think of myself as upper class right now.”

Where is Abu now?

Abu has been working as a Game Developer for the past three years, a role he really enjoys, especially since he had the chance to work on video games that were released globally. 

“From being a jobless university graduate with no work experience, to a professional Game Developer working on world-renowned games. Generation really changed the game for me!”

Positive changes in times of uncertainty

Ainhoa studied Fine Arts for her Bachelor’s Degree and did a Master’s Degree in Cultural Heritage and Creative Advertising. Before the pandemic, she left her job, because she was looking for a more meaningful career. But, with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns that followed, her job search became more difficult, so she decided to study Data Visualisation in her spare time, to keep her options open. Soon after, one of her relatives mentioned Generation Spain and encouraged her to apply to one of our several tech programs. That’s how her professional transformation from fine arts specialist to robotic process automation (RPA) developer began.

First post-pandemic technology job fair

“I think what Generation Spain did with its first Technological Employment Week was fantastic since it provided us with an excellent opportunity to have access to interviews with companies that are actually interested in our profiles. For me, it was a great opportunity to showcase my knowledge of RPA and discuss with professionals in this space from which I had a lot to learn.”

A new beginning

“I now work at Grupo Unísono as an RPA Developer. I could not be more grateful to Generation Spain for giving me this opportunity! My profile is not purely technical, and although a technical profile is the most in-demand these days, my soft skills are also valued. I couldn’t be happier with my new position!”

“Before starting this Generation Spain’s Bootcamp (sponsored by Verizon), I was feeling lost, but I don’t feel that way anymore. I have found a career I am passionate about and I hope to continue dedicating myself to it and expanding my RPA knowledge.”

From a Fire-Fighting Businessman to a Cloud Engineer

We had virtual coffee with Timothy, from Cloud Support & DevOps of #GetReadySG program, to chat about how he went from a fire-fighting businessman to having a blast in the ‘cloud’ — the tech kind, that is. Now having landed a full-time job as a cloud engineer, he shares his experience on the good and trying times in his journey towards a life-changing mid-career switch.

Like a Dog Chasing its Tail

“I have been stuck with running businesses for over ten years. Every day felt like a dog chasing its tail, running around in circles and ‘fire fighting’ all in the name of getting more money.

However, having studied engineering, he knew he would always want to get back into the tech scene, but never felt like it was the right time yet.

“During the pandemic, I saw a Facebook ad of Generation Singapore’s partnership with Microsoft and the government to offer tech re-skilling through a six-month bootcamp and apprenticeship. I took that as a sign that it was finally time.”

He proactively researched for opportunities for a career switch and decided to go for Generation’s program because of the apprenticeship offering.

Jumped In and Never Looked Back

Although he found the application somehow intimidating at first, he was thankful that he made it through. “I focused all my energy on getting into the programme, and it paid off. I resigned, jumped in, and never looked back.”

“The pandemic was definitely a wake-up call for me to take the plunge and chase my dreams.”

‘Intensive Yet State-of-the-Art Bootcamp’

“Stepping back into studying was the best feeling ever. The bootcamp was intensive, but in the best way possible. It was simply state-of-the-art! The latest and greatest in tech was taught to us and it equipped us with everything we needed. In fact, my manager from the apprenticeship was really impressed with what we had learnt, and was able to execute projects in just three months!”

Timothy also found the bootcamp enjoyable because of the supportive community of his cohort mates. “Everyone was so accepting, caring and encouraging. We had people from all walks of life learning together -handicapped, young, or old. We held hands and progressed together. Even till today, we keep in touch with monthly kopi-chats.”

“Our instructor paced the class according to our abilities, and even stayed back to help if we had questions. Generation team was incredible too, checking up on us frequently and giving us the encouragement that helped us pull through.”

Apprenticeship Experience with SCB

“I used to be a client of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), and now, I became their apprentice! It never occurred to me that this could happen — it was very cool and eye-opening.

Timothy also shared that SCB was very supportive, even giving them an extra month of bootcamp to equip them with more skills from data science and full-stack. “Together, we did a team project within a month and produced a client onboarding credit card website.”

“My boss was very empowering. He didn’t doubt our knowledge and even gave us opportunities to support the team. With the perspective and growth mindset built-in by Generation, I could see my IT ticket system increase day by day as I resolved issues. It was very encouraging!”

Mentorship with a Microsoft Mentor

His mentor Mathur Sunil gave him tailored and relevant advice at every stage of his journey. “He is very experienced. As we progressed to the apprenticeship stage, his mentorship method changed too, and encouraged us to learn the role instead.”

“Now at my permanent job, I can see how every single piece of my mentor’s useful advice fits in beautifully and complements the whole experience.”

Finally in the ‘Cloud’ After a Daunting Job Search

“Job searching is always daunting and interviews can be scary. Nevertheless, I applied that fighting spirit taught to us. Of course, there were failures and disappointments, but I truly believe that there is a perfect fit for everyone.”

After applying for hundreds of roles, Timothy finally managed to score a cloud engineer role three months after his apprenticeship.

“The director who hired me knew I had only three months of tech experience, but he was a supporter of mid-career switchers. He looked past my little tech knowledge, and valued the past experience and persistence I had that led to this reskilling journey and eventually this role.”

“After so many job applications, interviews, and sleepless nights, I am finally in the cloud(s)!

I now have a job opportunity and it’s the best-case scenario that I could ever have anticipated!”

Key Reflections

“Having a growth mindset is very essential as well as having the persistence to fight on even during tough times. Choosing your attitude even in difficulties, and staying positive, can truly make a difference.”

“Generation Singapore encouraged us to be brave again. They put so much effort to make all these happen — communicating with employers, knowledge transfer, and incredibly supporting us all the way.”

“If not for this program, I’d still be stuck in my previous rabbit hole. From the bottom of my heart, I am very thankful. I never knew that life can be so good.”

A seasoned driver with an unfulfilled passion for computers

Having spent six years of his life on the road as a driver, Gazali was bored. Even at 53, he knew that there was purpose to his fascination with technology — and he was done letting it go to waste.

Prior to driving, Gazali was a civil engineer, an insurance agent, and a creative-thinking trainer for primary and secondary school students. Even though he had dabbled in so many industries, after driving for so long, he was once again hungry for growth and a change in career for a lifetime.

That was what fueled him to make that first move towards a skills upgrade. And as fate would have it, his former employer, Grab, happened to be promoting Generation Singapore. So he applied and successfully got into the full-stack developer course.

Age is not a barrier

“I was initially afraid, worried about my age. Would I be able to cope like someone younger — even though I’ve been familiar with computers for over 30 years!”

However, during the bootcamp, thanks to the support of his instructor and peers, Gazali proved himself to be just as capable as the younger ones in applying himself and his knowledge to the tasks at hand. His secret? “You must have a passion for what you’re doing because ultimately, curiosity drives you forward.”

A career & perspective switch

His mentor made him see the soft skills that he had acquired through his varied job experiences works to his advantage. He realized that he didn’t need to be exactly like the other applicants with years of IT experience. Instead, he could be himself and weld this new-found edge and mindset to his edge during interviews. “I’m quite adaptable and can easily pivot to a new industry.”

In the same vein, “fruitful” was how he chose to sum up his apprenticeship with Calibrate, as he was able to take on many hats and play many roles from the front-end to the back-end. This helped him learn loads of things, including a brand new computer language within a month. More importantly, an area of expertise with which he could streamline his focus and ultimately build his career upon: data-driven back-end tasks.

Looking back in the rearview mirror

“Generation’s support is tremendous. They did not only teach us programming skills but also soft skills, which I apply in my current work. The last time when I graduated from poly, after giving the students’ diploma, they will let you find your own job. But with Generation, they supported us in many ways; securing mentors, apprenticeship, until we got full-time jobs,” he shared.

Extremely satisfied with the program, he even referred his son to enroll for the next cohort.

Looking back, he is thrilled that he took the plunge — especially now that he has finally settled into a job that he truly enjoyed. He has but one advice to his fellow mid career switchers — “when you feel like giving up, don’t. Commit to it 100 percent!”

“I’m really happy where I am right now. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. Thank you, Generation,” he concludes.