Post by farjana78 on Jul 2, 2024 10:59:35 GMT 1
The Zendesk Agents of Change program partners with nonprofits that provide workforce development training and upskilling services to historically marginalized or underrepresented adult communities. Launched in 2021 by Zendesk’s Tech for Good team, the program provides funding, free Zendesk software, and free certification exams to nonprofits so they can deliver skills-based learning to students in underserved communities. Since its inception, the program has certified nearly 200 agents through six programs on five continents, including the launch of the first administrative-level course with the Instituto da Oportunidade Social (IOS) in Brazil. Empowered Lives, Brighter Futures According to the Harvard Business School report, Dismissed by Degrees , college degrees are increasingly becoming an essential requirement for middle-skill jobs. OneTen reports that nearly two-thirds of Americans who do not have a four-year college degree are missing out on middle-skill roles that are drivers of economic mobility, creating an opportunity gap for skilled workers. This untapped talent pool, more than 70 million Americans strong, is broadly diverse and includes veterans, caregivers, farmworkers, and workers in roles vulnerable to automation. Providing upskilling opportunities for this group of potential workers is an opportunity for tech companies, including Zendesk.
Upskilling programs provide more people with pathways to Female number data family-sustaining careers, helping to close the economic opportunity gap. They also provide employers with a larger, more diverse talent pool. Zendesk’s Agents of Change program is on a mission to break down these barriers and encourage employers to adopt a skills-first hiring strategy. It’s empowering job seekers with upskilling opportunities to improve their access to higher-paying roles in the technology industry, and specifically with Zendesk customers. Alana Ramo, Director of the Agents of Change program, explains why this work is so important: "Zendesk helps nonprofits train students with traditional customer service experience so they can enter new careers at technology companies and gain access to more opportunities. This program is a win for our customers, who need qualified voices on their advocacy and support teams to meet the diverse needs of their customer base." The Change Agents program works hand-in-hand with nonprofit training partners (including KindWork , NPower , and StreetCode Academy in the US, and IOS and Skills2Work in Asia Pacific) to help underrepresented communities enter the workforce with technology and digital training. The program includes customer service training , free Zendesk Suite licenses, free curriculum materials, and access to Zendesk experts. It also provides employee engagement opportunities.
Tech for Good Career Pathways Milestones Around 200 students have graduated since 2022 137 certified agents since 2022 Nearly $3.5 million in total salaries earned by graduates to date Partner organizations use Zendesk to provide a real-world testing environment for students to engage in hands-on learning using support tickets and demo interactions. The comprehensive customer service training program has enabled students from underserved communities to significantly increase their self-sufficiency, skill sets, and job market profile, while also providing alternative ways to earn a living. Jeanine Mendez, co-founder of KindWork , explains why the program is so powerful and life-changing for students: “We teach our students how to use the Zendesk platform because of all the customer support job postings in New York, 50% to 75% say ‘Zendesk skills preferred.’ If you know how to use Zendesk and put that on your resume, you’ll have a much better chance. We’ve consciously designed our program to prepare students to become Zendesk masters.” A Winning Partnership: Zendesk and NPower Community Support NPower is a US - based nonprofit organization that strives to create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities. NPower Community Support allows apprentices to gain hands-on experience as entry-level technical support professionals, providing quality customer service, communications, referrals, and a host of other resources. With Zendesk, they also gain valuable insights into the community’s technology needs, thanks to advanced reporting capabilities. Matt Velez, Executive Director of the NPower National Trainer Institute, describes how Zendesk has helped the organization: "Zendesk has been a key partner in supporting the day-to-day operations of our national community support centers in Baltimore, Maryland, St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas. With the Zendesk platform, NPower can effectively receive and respond to the many technical support requests from local community residents who rely on our digital support services."
Upskilling programs provide more people with pathways to Female number data family-sustaining careers, helping to close the economic opportunity gap. They also provide employers with a larger, more diverse talent pool. Zendesk’s Agents of Change program is on a mission to break down these barriers and encourage employers to adopt a skills-first hiring strategy. It’s empowering job seekers with upskilling opportunities to improve their access to higher-paying roles in the technology industry, and specifically with Zendesk customers. Alana Ramo, Director of the Agents of Change program, explains why this work is so important: "Zendesk helps nonprofits train students with traditional customer service experience so they can enter new careers at technology companies and gain access to more opportunities. This program is a win for our customers, who need qualified voices on their advocacy and support teams to meet the diverse needs of their customer base." The Change Agents program works hand-in-hand with nonprofit training partners (including KindWork , NPower , and StreetCode Academy in the US, and IOS and Skills2Work in Asia Pacific) to help underrepresented communities enter the workforce with technology and digital training. The program includes customer service training , free Zendesk Suite licenses, free curriculum materials, and access to Zendesk experts. It also provides employee engagement opportunities.
Tech for Good Career Pathways Milestones Around 200 students have graduated since 2022 137 certified agents since 2022 Nearly $3.5 million in total salaries earned by graduates to date Partner organizations use Zendesk to provide a real-world testing environment for students to engage in hands-on learning using support tickets and demo interactions. The comprehensive customer service training program has enabled students from underserved communities to significantly increase their self-sufficiency, skill sets, and job market profile, while also providing alternative ways to earn a living. Jeanine Mendez, co-founder of KindWork , explains why the program is so powerful and life-changing for students: “We teach our students how to use the Zendesk platform because of all the customer support job postings in New York, 50% to 75% say ‘Zendesk skills preferred.’ If you know how to use Zendesk and put that on your resume, you’ll have a much better chance. We’ve consciously designed our program to prepare students to become Zendesk masters.” A Winning Partnership: Zendesk and NPower Community Support NPower is a US - based nonprofit organization that strives to create pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities. NPower Community Support allows apprentices to gain hands-on experience as entry-level technical support professionals, providing quality customer service, communications, referrals, and a host of other resources. With Zendesk, they also gain valuable insights into the community’s technology needs, thanks to advanced reporting capabilities. Matt Velez, Executive Director of the NPower National Trainer Institute, describes how Zendesk has helped the organization: "Zendesk has been a key partner in supporting the day-to-day operations of our national community support centers in Baltimore, Maryland, St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas. With the Zendesk platform, NPower can effectively receive and respond to the many technical support requests from local community residents who rely on our digital support services."