AWS re/Start: Now building a generation of cloud-ready talent in France

In Paris, 17 young adults – many of whom didn’t have experience in technology until a few months ago – are starting to interview for positions for full-time cloud computing roles with potential employers including D2SI, Capgemini, and Gekko.

How is that possible? They just graduated from AWS re/Start, a new digital skills training program in France that aims to support those who are unemployed or underemployed – usually knowing little or nothing about information technology (IT) – to become cloud computing specialists. For program participants, it’s an opportunity to develop highly sought-after skills in the job market. AWS re/Start recently launched in France and is also available in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) developed AWS re/Start to ensure that students are learning the necessary technical and soft skills to build their career in IT. Young adults who join an AWS re/Start cohort will complete technical training classes for 12 weeks and are taught by an AWS accredited instructor. Participants follow the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner curriculum, while practicing problem solving based on real-world customer situations and working on a variety of lab exercises. They learn how to set up new cloud environments using proven best practices in security and compliance, as well as how to build applications using software development toolkits for popular languages, such as Python or Shell.

In addition to technical skills, AWS gives students the practical support needed to launch an entry-level cloud career. AWS is working with Generation, a global employment nonprofit that helps empower young people to build their careers, to support students with integrated training that includes technical, behavioral and mindset skills, mentoring, social support services, job application and interview preparation, and direct connections to employers.

AWS re/Start is piloting the program with AWS customers and AWS Partner Network (APN) Partners. Those customers and partners have the ability to connect with AWS re/Start participants about entry-level cloud roles in areas such as operations, site reliability, and infrastructure support.

If you’re an AWS customer or APN Partner in France, the US, or the UK looking to recruit the next generation of cloud specialists and help to give unemployed or underemployed individuals a chance to launch their careers in technology, get in touch with our team at aws-restart-employers@amazon.com to learn more.

AWS re/Start In Action

Check out success stories from AWS re/Start participants:

AWS re/Start graduates helped Hive Home quickly start solving company-specific challenges.

AWS re/Start program taught learner Javeriyah cloud skills to launch a new career.

Nazar used the technical skills he learned through AWS re/Start to launch a career in cloud operations.