The truth is by the time we get to 2020, technology will be remarkably different. In my 20 year career, I’ve served many different roles, from a contractor in sales and marketing to my current job as support manager in the technology reliability center. AT&T’s Your Path to 2020 program has been an awesome tool and provided a great variety of avenues for training and development.
The world is changing and technology is shifting to meet that change. As AT&T works to become a software-centric company, I want to be part of that change. I love working somewhere that understands the importance of giving its longtime employees the necessary skills for the jobs of the future.
I’m now studying to become a security engineer through AT&T’s Workforce Reskilling and Pivot Program. In fact, our group was among the first to participate in the Workforce Reskilling program when it launched in 2013. At the time, there were only a few classes and tools to work with, but today, the program provides a variety of classes that track toward job descriptions and roles.
In the last two years, I’ve earned 23 badges, taken more than 100 classes and close to graduating. It’s exciting to learn about truly cutting-edge technology and being part of a major transformation, such as the one here at AT&T. Now when I read about the latest developments on topics such as APIs and data science, I know the value of it and what it means to us.
I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge of protecting our communications for the company. The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve and I know my learning doesn’t stop with my graduation. Bring it on…I’m excited.
Working and studying at the same time is not easy, but the payoff is worth it. I need new skills in order to stay relevant in a rapidly changing technology-based job market. Ultimately, I’m grateful to the company for creating the Workforce 2020 program. It’s giving me a chance to continue my career in an entirely new way.
Jacobie Davis is a Senior Specialist in Network Support and based in the Dallas-area
