Tech Collective seeks 2014 Fellowship applicants

PROVIDENCE – Tech Collective, a Rhode Island-focused IT and bioscience industry association, announced last week that it is currently accepting resumes for its 2014 Fellowship program.
The 10-12 week program, funded under the Governor’s Workforce Board, connects Rhode Island college and university graduates with local IT and bioscience employers, who submit open entry-level posts as fellowship opportunities for the Tech Collective candidates.
According to the Tech Collective, the Fellowship program aims to build the workforce pipeline and fill talent gaps in Rhode Island by providing recent college graduates with hands-on industry experience and providing industry employers with qualified candidates who could be hired full-time after the program ends.
To date, Tech Collective has successfully placed 14 Fellowship participants with nine local companies. This year, the third year of the program, fellowships will run June through August, with candidates working between 35 and 40 hours per week. Each Fellow will be paid a weekly stipend funded 50 percent by the Governor’s Workforce Board and 50 percent by the host company.
The Fellowship program is open to Rhode Island graduates of bioscience or IT/CIS studies. Fellowship candidates must have graduated within the last six months from a Rhode Island college or university and must have earned a two or four-year degree in a bioscience or IT/CIS related course of study. Graduates of industry-recognized bioscience or IT certificate programs will also be considered.
Once selected, Fellows will participate in a work-readiness orientation before the start of the program as well as periodic group meetings throughout the program.
Currently posted Fellowship positions include engineering, development, applications, software, network technician, and laboratory technician. Interested graduates should visit the Tech Collective job postings webpage and enter keyword “Fellowship” to view available positions and to submit cover letters and resumes for consideration.
“Internships and fellowships have proven to be valuable experiential learning opportunities for both employers and workers,” said Kathie Shields, executive director of Tech Collective. “The Fellowship program takes this model a step further, making direct employer-talent matches and working with all involved to foster support and success throughout the program. Graduates bring fresh ideas and talent to the company table, and we look forward to introducing them to Rhode Island bioscience and IT workforce.”
Rhode Island IT and bioscience employers interested in hosting a Tech Collective fellow may submit open entry-level job positions directly to Tech Collective. Qualified candidates will be forwarded to participating companies, who would conduct formal interviews and select fellows.
For more information or to participate in the 2014 Graduate Fellowship program, visit www.tech-collective.org or contact Chelsea Shaw, workforce development program coordinator, at 401-521-7805 x104 or by email at cshaw@tech-collective.org.

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