Checkr Partners With Slack’s Next Chapter Program To Expand Fair Chance Pathways Into Tech

March 25, 2021
Checkr Editor

It is well known that the growth of jobs in the tech sector is far outpacing job growth in other industries. To meet business demands, non-traditional, training pathways must supply the tech sector with competitive and diverse talent.

As a mission driven company that champions fairness in hiring, Checkr has a successful track record of blazing innovative pathways into tech for diverse talent. It is in this spirit that we are proud to join Slack’s Next Chapter program, a six-month apprenticeship program designed to shift perceptions and bring formerly incarcerated people into highly skilled engineering roles.  Checkr will offer a five-month engineering apprenticeship as part of this effort. Checkr’s VP, Engineering, Gabe Westmaas sees this as a natural addition to the company. “This opportunity is aligned with our values and our mission and will open a door to a great learning experience for a deserving apprentice. We look forward to continuing to show our mission in action and how diverse teams can help propel business ingenuity and growth.”

We applaud the Next Chapter for being pioneers in the engineering apprenticeship space and for galvanizing businesses to expand equitable pathways into highly skilled engineering jobs for diverse talent.  The business community has an important role to play in ensuring that a past conviction history doesn’t prevent great talent from professional success.

Inclusive and supportive environments are a backbone to strong and dynamic teams. Checkr’s engineering organization embraces the chance to diversify our team and amplify our mission through this Apprenticeship Program. Engineer, Katrina Lee shared, “I’ve seen engineers with non-traditional backgrounds succeed because their past experiences provided unique perspectives to our product development and to problem solving.”

Checkr is all in on opening workforce doors into tech through this effort. #fairchance #engineering #reentry

Checkr & Slack Partner to Expand Fair Chance Pathways Into Tech

It is well known that the growth of jobs in the tech sector is far outpacing job growth in other industries. To meet business demands, non-traditional, training pathways must supply the tech sector with competitive and diverse talent.

As a mission driven company that champions fairness in hiring, Checkr has a successful track record of blazing innovative pathways into tech for diverse talent. It is in this spirit that we are proud to announce the launch of our new Engineering Apprenticeship Program, a training opportunity for people who are formerly incarcerated to become engineers.  Gabe Westmaas, Checkr’s VP, Engineering, who will help lead the Program sees it as a natural addition to the company. “This Apprenticeship Program is aligned with our values and our mission and will open a door to a great learning experience for a deserving apprentice. We look forward to continuing to show our mission in action and how diverse teams can help propel business ingenuity and growth.”

This Apprenticeship Program is the result of Checkr’s partnership with Slack/The Next Chapter Initiative (NCI). We applaud NCI for being pioneers in the engineering apprenticeship space and for galvanizing businesses to expand equitable pathways into highly skilled engineering jobs for diverse talent. The business community has an important role to play in ensuring that a past conviction history doesn’t prevent great talent from professional success.

Inclusive and supportive environments are a backbone to strong and dynamic teams. Checkr’s engineering organization embraces the chance to diversify our team and amplify our mission through this Apprenticeship Program. Engineer, Katrina Lee shared, “I’ve seen engineers with non-traditional backgrounds succeed because their past experiences provided unique perspectives to our product development and to problem solving.”

Checkr is all in on opening workforce doors into tech through this effort. #fairchance #engineering #reentry

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