On June 15th, 17 members of the very first Bright Paths graduating class celebrated their one-year work anniversary with Perficient! These colleagues are a perfect example of how successful this program can be and the incredible opportunities that participants can earn.
Perficient’s Bright Paths Program is a free, award-winning, custom coding boot camp designed to advance STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented constituencies and communities. The program is offered in partnership with Strayer University’s learning paths and has delivered more than 75 graduates into the workforce since 2020. Five total cohorts have been offered in Detroit, Minneapolis and Lafayette, LA since its creation.
Read on below to see what a few of these colleagues have to say about their Bright Paths experience and their current roles at Perficient:
Can You Tell Me About Your Experience in the Bright Paths Program?
I had a wonderful experience in the Bright Paths Program, where I was able to meet wonderful people, both students and staff. Perficient funded the Bright Paths program, which ultimately led me to work here. I am so grateful that the company believed in me and gave me the chance to participate in such a life-changing program.
– Quanisha Williams, Associate Technical Consultant
My Bright Paths experience was great overall. The best part of the boot camp was collaborating with my cohort, teaming up on coding challenges, and learning new ways of thinking when approaching those challenges. Perficient’s involvement in the program was cool to see as well. I enjoyed our Perficient Friday sessions, where Perficient staff spoke about their project experiences and what they do daily. After hearing their stories, I knew I wanted to be a part of Perficient.
– Michael Payne, Associate Technical Consultant
Bright Paths for me has been as the name states – a “Bright Path” that has helped me discover a part of myself that I didn’t know existed. Participating in the program was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, as I came from a career in design and had to learn how to pivot into tech. Overall, Bright Paths has shown me how to embrace what I am good at and apply my skills effectively, and I am so grateful for the experience.
– Yuliana Aldrich, Associate Technical Consultant
How Would You Sum Up Your First Year at Perficient?
The first year of work here has flown by. I’ve already developed great experiences and relationships both internally and externally, and I am blessed to experience first-hand how much Perficient values a healthy work/life balance – something very important to me. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings and am looking forward to continued growth.
– Quanisha Williams, Associate Technical Consultant
I have had a great experience at Perficient this past year, working with kind and patient teammates to achieve a shared goal of putting out the best product we can for our client. My favorite part about this company is my colleagues. Everyone I’ve spoken to and worked with has been helpful and supportive throughout my entire journey.
– Michael Payne, Associate Technical Consultant
My first year went incredibly fast, but I have already seen what a wonderful community Perficient is! Management really cares for the team and tries to communicate and help individuals as much as they can, despite how big our group is. I am proud to have the responsibility of representing a company that is committed to its values and vision.
– Yuliana Aldrich, Associate Technical Consultant
Building a Better Future
As our Bright Paths Program continues to grow, more and more graduates are joining the Perficient team. We are excited to continue driving innovation forward with these colleagues and look forward to expanding our company with graduates from our current cohorts in Detroit and Minneapolis.
For further information on our Bright Paths program, check out some of our other blogs!
Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career change, turning a hobby into a career, or looking to enhance your technical skillsets, Perficient’s Bright Paths Program could be the perfect opportunity for you. If you or someone you know aspires for a career in tech, we’re currently accepting applications for our upcoming Bright Paths Program in Detroit and Minneapolis. The application window closes May 10, and classes begin June 20.
Stay tuned for the next two blogs of this three-part series to learn what advice graduates would give to incoming Bright Paths students, and see what possibilities lie within the program by learning about the custom applications they developed.
At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at Perficient at our Careers page.
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