A pioneering initiative led by Amesto Aces and Microsoft is reshaping Norway’s technology sector by providing comprehensive tech training to jobseekers, successfully placing dozens in cybersecurity roles while addressing the country’s growing tech labor shortage.

The program has already trained 61 participants, with 36 completing all certifications and 12 securing full-time positions. This innovative approach is helping diverse candidates like Magdalena Kosinska, a 29-year-old Polish immigrant, transition into rewarding tech careers.

Kosinska’s journey from account manager to developer at KLP, one of Norway’s largest insurance companies, exemplifies the program’s effectiveness. Her successful development of an AI add-on using Azure OpenAI Service demonstrates how the program equips participants with practical, in-demand skills.

The initiative emerged from a collaboration between Ahmed Hassan, the 30-year-old Norwegian co-founder of Amesto Aces, and Ariane Spandow, chairwoman of Amesto Group. Their partnership focuses on a “triple-bottom-line” model that measures success through profit, people, and planet metrics.

Norway’s tech sector faces a significant challenge, with industry studies projecting a shortage of 40,000 tech workers by 2030. Microsoft Norway’s education lead, Henriette Dolven, emphasizes that the program directly addresses this gap while promoting inclusivity in the tech workforce.

The program’s success extends beyond technical training. Of the participants, nine are women, and 29 have immigrant backgrounds, demonstrating its effectiveness in breaking down traditional barriers in tech recruitment. The comprehensive curriculum combines Microsoft Learn’s cybersecurity modules with essential social skills training.

“The most important trait in an employee is the desire to learn, not what they already know or where they went to school,” says Thale Fonkalsrud, Kosinska’s supervisor at KLP, highlighting the program’s focus on potential rather than traditional credentials.

Looking ahead, Amesto Aces plans to expand its reach to other Norwegian cities and Nordic countries. The program’s success in placing participants in tech roles while saving government resources has established it as a model for addressing both unemployment and industry skill gaps.

The initiative’s impact extends beyond individual success stories, challenging industry stereotypes and creating pathways for diverse candidates to enter the tech sector. By focusing on merit rather than background, the program is helping to build a more inclusive and capable tech workforce in Norway.

As the technology sector continues to grow, this collaborative approach between private industry and social innovation could serve as a blueprint for addressing similar challenges in other regions, while promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

News Source: https://news.microsoft.com/source/emea/features/acing-a-career-in-tech-innovative-program-cuts-through-stereotypes/