Tech industry leaders facing the challenges of hiring diverse talent have also identified a schism between a person’s actual abilities and access to opportunity and their belief in themselves. Once adult learners are able to bridge this “belief gap,” their ability to see themselves in a tech career becomes much clearer.
Participating in a May 2023 DeVry University roundtable discussion, Ashwin Bharath, CEO of the tech talent enablement firm Revature, emphasized that closing the belief gap is crucial to solving the tech opportunity gap. He added that compelling pathways can be created through sponsorship and mentorship programs that lift the confidence of career seekers and entry-level employees in IT and cyber security, and by making career entry accessible, affordable and affable (as in more welcoming).