Virtual Career Accelerator 2022
Accelerate Her Future’s inaugural Virtual Career Accelerator was a fully-funded 16-week program for self-identifying Black, Indigenous and women of colour based in Ontario.
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Overall Program Statistics
37 Participants completed the program
90% Program completion rate
95% Overall program satisfaction
95% Would recommend AHF to a peer
100% Found the AHF team to be responsive and helpful
*5-point Likert Scale (% of respondents with strongly agree and agree ratings)
Technical Upskilling Courses 92% Career Readiness Bootcamps 92% Career Coaching Sessions 92% Technical Mentorship Sessions 92% Group Mentorship Circles 89% Short-Term Projects 81% Effectiveness of Program Components *5-point Likert Scale (% of respondents with very good (4) and excellent (5) ratings)
Were aware of different employers and recruitment processes they offer
Had access to a supportive community of peers and professionals where they could bring their whole self
Had an optimistic outlook about their career journey
*5-point Likert Scale (% of respondents with strongly agree and agree ratings)
89% POST 21% PRE +68%
89% POST 33% PRE +56%
95% POST 39% PRE +56%
Were aware of job opportunities
Utilized LinkedIn to help with their job search
89% POST 33% PRE +56%
62% POST 27% PRE +35%
with the skills
learned over time 84% POST 36% PRE +48%
Applied to jobs that align
they
Career Readiness Bootcamps
95% better understand factors involved in navigating job search and career development as a Black, Indigenous or woman of colour
95% Overall upskilling course completion rate across 3 tracks
95% better understand strategies for writing a high performing resume
92% are more comfortable with setting actionable goals for their career development and job search
91% better understand the benefits of applying their Personal Value Proposition (PVP)
89% better understand strategies for interviewing with confidence
5-point Likert Scale (% of respondents with strongly agree and agree ratings)
“The VCA program fostered many skills and opportunities in both my professional and personal life. I was able to develop technical knowledge while applying the creativity I already had. On top of that, I had the chance to meet and discuss with amazing women in the industry that I will remain in contact with in the long-term”
Nayon Yoo UX & Digital Marketing Upskilling Track ParticipantShort Term Projects
Participants’ ratings on improved “Power Skills” as a result of the short-term projects
95% Teamwork
92% Creativity
10 Organizations involved
92% Problem Solving
92% Time Management
5-point Likert Scale (% of respondents with strongly agree and agree ratings)
“Being allowed to join the AHF Virtual Career Accelerator was an incredible experience that allowed me to connect and network with intelligent, career-driven women that wanted to help other women advance, grow, and succeed. It also allowed me to learn new tools, such as Figma, Miro, and Notion, which are immensely valuable to have learned. Finally, it helped me develop and grow my confidence when going out and looking for a new job and connecting with people.”
Waneiza Sohail UX & Digital Marketing Upskilling Track ParticipantNetwork Building
Participants’ ratings on network building as a result of the VCA program
95% had more opportunities to network with other Black, Indigenous and women of colour and develop their peer and professional contacts
89% have grown their network of peers and industry professionals
89% felt confident in their networking & relationship building skills after completing the program
74% have connected with 3 to 7+ employers in their network since starting the program
5-point Likert Scale (% of respondents with strongly agree and agree ratings)
"Joining the career accelerator, I was nervous, but the AHF team and community really made me feel at ease and continuously supported me throughout my journey. I was able to learn new skills, improve upon old ones and felt prepared for taking on new challenges. I think some moments really have the ability to inspire you, and this was one of mine."
Pooja Patel Data Analytics Fundamentals Track ParticipantParticipants’ ratings on LinkedIn connections as a result of the VCA program
71% connected with recruiters involved in the VCA
78% connected with VCA Mentors
90% connected with VCA peers 84% connected with VCA facilitators and career coaches
Program Strengths
Highly-rated for our pilot. AHF takes pride in our design thinking methodology, community consultations and agile response to participant needs during the program.
Positive relationship and community building as a result of AHF’s high-touch approach, leading to both higher engagement and completion levels.
Real-world application of learnings from the technical upskilling courses to short-term projects allowing for technical and power skills development.
Holistic program designed through an intersectional lens offering career readiness, upskilling, mentorship, and career coaching.
Areas for Growth
Continue to enhance a seamless transition between the technical upskilling courses and the short-term project offered by organizations on Riipen.
Pending budget availability, examine the feasibility of providing post-program job search activities/supports given the popularity of the group and 1:1 career coaching.
Enhance selection of organizations offering short-term projects on Riipen and onboarding to ensure alignment with the needs of the program and participants.
Continue to collaborate with upskilling training providers to enhance course structure and content where needed.
Thank You to Our Service Delivery Partners
This
Program
is Supported By AHF’s Virtual Career Accelerator Program was funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario
