Training Camp ‘trying to help out’

All of us should be on the lookout for helpful resources for unemployed IT workers, and I think I've spotted a good one: an IT training outfit based in Philadelphia called Training Camp. They appear to be genuinely out to make it easier for IT pros to get the training they need to stay employed or to regain employment.

I spoke earlier today with Steve Gaudino, Training Camp's COO, about some programs they're offering for unemployed IT workers. One is called Unemployment Surety Guarantee, under which you pay full price for a training program to boost your street cred now, and then if you get laid off, they'll let you take another course of equal or lesser cost free of charge.

Under another one, they'll pay for your hotel accommodations and/or exams (depending on the course and your needs) if you're unemployed. Gaudino insisted there's no fine print. He acknowledged that Training Camp is hoping to get some good press and additional business out of the effort, so it's not pure altruism. But the fact is they're out of pocket with this stuff, so I think Gaudino was sincere when he said, "We're trying to help out."

He also provided some interesting insights into how the recession has affected IT training. For example:

• No surprise: Businesses are cutting back on spending for IT training. Up until about a year ago, 80% of Training Camp's revenue came from businesses, and 20% came from individuals. Now, that split is more in the neighborhood of 60% from businesses and 40% from individuals. (Gaudino said Training Camp's year-over-year revenue is flat, which isn't bad, considering the economic circumstances.)
•  Surprise: We hear all the time about people leaving the IT career field, but Gaudino said there's an uptick in people leaving other career fields and choosing IT. The fact is, there are plenty of other occupations that are taking a more severe beating than IT -- he cited the example of a real estate agent who recently underwent training for a help desk role.
• No surprise: Training Camp is getting a big chunk of its business from the government in general, and the military branches in particular. "They're the one sector that seems to always be immune," Gaudino said. He was unable to point to any other sector that's particularly weak or strong.

Training Camp markets its programs as being "boot-camp style," but that doesn't mean students can expect to have a crazed drill sergeant screaming in their faces. It just means the programs are accelerated, intensive, and full-immersion, with classes typically running from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for five to 14 days.