TechSF helps unemployed and underemployed Bay Area Residents get the skills they need to get back to work.
Funding for the program comes from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, meaning eligible participants receive services and training at no cost. 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, 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.
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 job search 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.).
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 ask that 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.
Once we receive your application, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) will connect you with the TechSF partner organization that best suits your needs. If you are asked to participate in an in-person or phone interview, you should be able to demonstrate: job search strategy, strategic goal setting, and experience in the field of Information Technology.
Acceptance into TechSF is competitive. 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 tech training at partner organizations as school enrollment. This may interfere with your unemployment benefits if the correct steps are not taken in a timely manner with EDD. You may also qualify for the California Training Benefits Program, which we encourage all applicants to investigate prior to completing enrollment within the TechSF program.
Possibly. Participating TechSF partners have specific guidelines -- this can be negotiated once you are accepted into TechSF.
This will vary with each TechSF partner organization.
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.
TechSF is a free program, scholarships are not necessary.
