When Heather Smith started working as a veterinary technician, she never imagined it would lead to a career in information technology. But after being asked to troubleshoot the clinic’s computer systems and manage software updates, she discovered a new interest. “After a few years of helping with the IT I thought, maybe I should take some classes.”
She reached out to the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center to learn more about options through the IT Academy. Smith didn’t enroll at the time, but the idea of pursuing IT stayed in the back of her mind, and a few years later she felt the time was right to enroll. “I was seeking a career change and IT stood out as a promising career with plenty of growth opportunities,” she said.
Smith started the enrollment process and applied for a grant through the Virginia Workforce Center. When she was approved, she took it as a sign that she was on the right path and needed to keep moving forward. She enrolled in the IT Academy’s IT Fundamentals course (now named Tech+) which covers a broad range of IT concepts and helps students determine if an IT career is right for them. She enjoyed the course and her instructor, and decided to keep going. After completing IT Fundamentals, Smith enrolled in the IT Academy’s A+ and Network+ courses.
In the A+ course Smith learned a wide range of skills from how to identify, use, and connect hardware components and devices to installing and supporting common operating systems and troubleshooting. She followed up this course with the Network+ class which teaches the technical skills needed to securely set up, support and troubleshoot the essential networks that businesses rely on. She learned basic networking concepts, how to configure wireless networks, and how to secure and troubleshoot common networking issues.
“I enjoyed the labs and the hands-on nature of the program which helped me gain valuable experience that made me a more competitive candidate to employers. During the interview for my current position, they asked if I had experience with certain things and while I didn’t have work experience, I had experience through the labs and training at the IT Academy.”
Smith also credits the IT Academy’s focus on job success skills with helping to launch her IT career. “The mock interviews, soft skills training, and mini job fair gave me the confidence and exposure to employers I needed to secure interview opportunities.”
Today, thanks to hands-on training through the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s IT Academy, Heather Smith has transitioned into a full-time role as an IT Specialist for the Town of South Boston. She works with the Town’s Assistant Manager and IT Director Dennis Barker (also an IT Academy completer) to keep the Town’s IT systems updated, maintained, and problem free. “I can do anything from working on the webpage and troubleshooting, to installing new computers and ensuring the computers on our networks are all updated.” She’s also involved with maintaining IT resources that live on the cloud.
Smith encourages anyone thinking of enrolling in the IT Academy to go for it. “It’s a great opportunity,” she said.
The SVHEC’s IT Academy is currently enrolling for the fall. Several courses are available including Tech+, A+, and Intro to Python Coding. Classes begin in August and financial assistance is available. To learn more visit www.svhec.org/ita or call 434-572-5568.