At the start of 2020, Tempestt Woodard was working as an industrial hygienist in a busy hospital, a steady career in healthcare that she had enjoyed for nearly a decade. However, like so many others, Tempestt experienced a dramatic shift in her job when the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the United States a few months into the year. Her job became one that she no longer enjoyed, one that brought an overwhelming amount of stress into her life. This major change in her life compelled Tempestt to start thinking about going down a different career path.
She knew she enjoyed being behind the scenes managing data and doing technical work. After all, that is what she had been trained to do as an environmental health officer during her time in the Navy before she ever became an industrial hygienist. This realization led her to dive into the world of coding, and she ended up quitting her job in 2021 to focus on building that skill. After her successful history of earning a master’s degree in public health, serving a tour in the Navy, and working ten years in healthcare, Tempestt decided to completely transition into the field of technology.
After participating in a couple of anxiety-inducing bootcamps by other organizations, Tempestt landed on Training Concepts after learning that TC was a VA Preferred Provider and that her training would be financially supported through the VET TEC® program. When asked about the differences between the bootcamps she had previously attended and her experience in the I.T. Career Start program at Training Concepts, Tempestt explained that the bootcamps were too fast paced and made her feel left behind; her time at TC was the exact opposite!
“There’s constant communication with everyone ranging from the teachers to the admin side. There are career fairs, mentorship from Training Concepts. There’s communications throughout, before, during, and after the program. I didn’t get that experience with the other bootcamps.”
Tempestt was a big fan of the resources that were provided at TC, from shared learning materials and study guides/groups to recorded lectures she was able to refer back to and seasoned instructors who shared their experiences with certification exams and what to pay attention to. One thing that really had an impact on Tempestt during her time at TC was how much the instructors truly cared. When she was absent, they would personally reach out to check on her and see if there was anything they could do for her. They would ask how her exams were going and provide career advice when needed.
“I just felt like everyone was involved, and everyone was invested in our success.”
When it came time for her to seek out employment, Tempestt felt like TC’s student success team really catered to her as an individual by asking what she really desired in a job and what her values were, while also helping to tailor her resume for the perfect job. “I felt like I could talk to them anytime, and they also kept me abreast of different job opportunities and career fairs and even offered to link me with recruiters.”
After graduating from her program at Training Concepts, Tempestt accepted a job as an I.T. Fundamentals Instructor for a nonprofit group in educational technology that recruits people in the community to gain knowledge in I.T. and digital literacy. These students are generally immigrants with English as their second language or GED students. Though she never saw herself teaching, she has found much fulfillment in her new career and enjoys getting to make a difference in the lives of those around her by sharing her passion for technology. As someone who didn’t start out in the field of Information Technology, Tempestt tries to share her story with her students to encourage them as their start down their own new paths.
Tempestt’s advice to anyone who is pursuing a career in technology is to be flexible and know that every job position might not look the way you want it to. “There are always some things you like and some things you don’t, but you just have to choose what is most important to you. You have to be open to the possibilities and know that it’s a steppingstone to get to where you want to be.”
Train With TC
If you’re ready to jumpstart a successful career in technology, the team at Training Concepts can help you, too! With hands-on, real-world training from our expert instructors, you’ll be on the fast track to earning your certifications and accomplishing your career goals. We have all the courses you need! Contact us today to learn more and get started!
