BAVC helps unemployed and underemployed Bay Area Residents get the skills they need to get back to work.
Funded by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development’s TechSF Program, BAVC scholarships cover the cost of the full program. Whether you want to dive into social media marketing or learn how to make a movie from start to finish, BAVC has a technical training for you. In addition to honing your technical skills, you will have an opportunity to build interpersonal skills and increase your professional network through tailored resources, a responsive learning environment, and a supportive and inclusive community. Through TechSF, hundreds of qualified workers have started new chapters at Google, BuzzFeed, Oracle, Restoration Hardware, Benefit Cosmetics, Yahoo, Macys, UCSF, Mozilla, Hack the Hood, and Lawrence Berkeley Labs.
To qualify for TechSF at BAVC, you must be 18 years-old or older, possess a High School Diploma or G.E.D, be authorized to work in the U.S., and be underemployed or unemployed. View a complete list of qualifying factors here.
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If you already have the technical skills but haven't had traction on the market, TechSF can help you land the job.
Technical expertise can only get you so far. From networking strategies to building a personal brand, our career workshops can take you the rest of the way.
Free tech training, career counseling, industry info and job placement support for 18-to-24 year olds.
TechSF is a scholarship program funded through the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development in partnership with the Department of Labor.
The goal of the program is to help unemployed and underemployed Bay Area residents seek and find employment within the Tech industry. For those that qualify, it provides no cost technical training and career services or direct career services.
For those who apply for training and are approved, TechSF offers technical skills training and career services (1:1 career coaching, career workshops, resume review, etc.).
To see the trainings available through TechSF, please see the Available Trainings section of this page.
For those who apply for direct career services (Tech to Hire), approved applicants receive: 1:1 career coaching, career workshops, resume review, mock interviews, and much more!
Individuals actively seeking employment who are:
Please note, this is not an all inclusive list of qualifiers - so if you are uncertain as to whether or not you fit this criteria, we still encourage you to apply!
Before applying for TechSF, we require you to attend a TechSF orientation.
You must complete an online application and at the time of application, and be able to share: an updated resume, URL to LinkedIn profile and, if applicable, link to a portfolio or personal website.
After the application is complete, individuals who pass the initial assessment are set up for an interview with one of BAVC’s training team members. During this interview applicants should demonstrate: job search strategy, strategic goal setting, and experience in the field of Information Technology.
Acceptance into TechSF is competitive. We see nearly 1400 applicants for approximately 150-200 training slots per year! We encourage individuals to have their assets (resume, LinkedIn, and if applicable portfolio) ready to go at the time of applying and to prepare well for their interview.
Unfortunately, no. TechSF aims to aid as many individuals as possible. In order to so, once accepted, we only guarantee one fully funded training track per person.
EDD considers BAVC training as school enrollment. This may interfere with your unemployment benefits if the correct steps are not taken in a timely manner with EDD. BAVC students may qualify for the California Training Benefits Program, which we encourage all applicants to investigate prior to completing enrollment within the TechSF program. BAVC does not directly coordinate with EDD but can provide resources to help navigate this system.
Cohort based training is an intensive 2+ week training program. If you are working and feel confident you can train, we'll work with you! If you acquire a job during training, it may be possible to continue with your classes. Your assigned career counselor can help you navigate this.
Cohort trainings begin and end on a set date. Those approved for training will be advised of dates in their acceptance letter
For on location trainings, computers will be provided. However, to continue working on building and honing skills on your own time, we recommend you have access to your own computer.
All kinds. IT and multimedia across all industries. We have connections with ad agencies, brick-and-mortar retailers, game developers, web portals, software companies, start-ups, nonprofits, colleges and universities, boutique production houses, government agencies and much more.
The BAVC training team works with individuals in the program to equip them with the necessary skills to conduct the best job search possible.
TechSF Fast Track Certificate graduates go on to do so many cool things. We create an environment where students feel empowered in their job search. Here are a few examples of the kinds of roles that you might get:
TechSF is a free program, scholarships are not necessary.
