TechForce Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has launched a national “Because I’m a Tech…” campaign featuring a diverse group of technicians sharing their stories of successful and secure careers. TechForce celebrates the campaign with the release of its updated Ultimate Guide to Transportation Technician Careers: TechForce.org/CareerGuide.
Transportation technology is critical to the American economy, and the demand for technicians is surging. Yet, many students planning their futures and individuals considering career changes don’t realize the opportunities and the potential for success as transportation techs. Often underestimated as “blue collar” or “grease monkey” jobs, today’s technicians are actually high-tech “new collar” workers who depend on their computer skills and fluency with the latest technology.
“A modern car runs on approximately 100 million lines of computer code, more than twice that of the NASA space shuttle,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO and executive director for TechForce Foundation. “Now, with electric vehicles set to become more common than ever before, the list of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills transportation techs need continues to grow. These are skilled, well-paying, technical jobs that literally keep America rolling.”
To correct this misperception, TechForce and its industry partners are sharing stories and resources to showcase accurate representations of technician careers. TechForce invites techs to join in by posting on social media and completing the phrase “Because I’m Tech…” with the accomplishments, lifestyle and other things they enjoy thanks to their technician career.
TechForce has also created the first and only social network designed and gamified for tech students and professional technicians to connect with each other, schools, industry and employers (JoinTechForce.org). The social network features the Ultimate Guide to Transportation Tech Careers and other resources, opportunities for career exploration, scholarships, free technical training and events. The online platform also connects schools with industry resources.
The TechForce social network is evolving and growing every day, with thousands of students, instructors and working techs using this resource. TechForce was able to launch the gamified site in the midst of COVID to meet the rising demand for virtual training and social connectivity. The transportation community is both supporting it with content and using it to learn, connect, find scholarships and events, and explore job opportunities while competing for prizes and leaderboard status.
For additional information about secure, successful careers in transportation technology, visit jointechforce.org.
