ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -- Looking to change careers? Today is the deadline to sign up for LaunchCode's introductory class for people who want to get into programming.
Here's executive director Jeff Mazur: "The basic premise behind LaunchCode is: there's this huge need for people who can do work as software developers. We know industry has moved in that direction and there's a huge workforce gap there.
"The LaunchCode model says the traditional way we screen people for these roles is wrong,"
When Square's Jim McKelvey founded LaunchCode, he succeeded in convincing many of the area's largest companies to abandon their previously rigid requirements -- like a bachelor's degree. Instead the question is whether applicants have the skills.
Tech careers don't need to be at Amazon in Seattle or Apple in Cupertino -- areas where cost of living is spiralling. Companies everywhere are hurting for technical talent.
"There used to be this notion that if you really wanted to work in tech or do a job like software development you had to find your way into one of these big, huge tech behemoths," Mazur said.
"What we're seeing now is that there are opportunities for really fulfilling, high quality, high growth careers in technology for companies that we don't really think of tech companies, like the Anheuser-Busches of the world."
So at Panera, they're making sandwiches. . and code.
St. Louis employers like Centene, MasterCard and Boeing are still taking LaunchCode graduates by the dozens, according to Mazur.
LaunchCode offers several tiers of entry, depending on how much a person already knows about coding. The class whose registration closes today is 'LC101,' a total introduction.
"For the first time, we'll be deploying our updated curriculum, which is JavaScript-based," he said.
This next 'LC101' begins in August. There are both daytime and evening options.
More information: http://launchcode.org/lc101
Other programs: https://www.launchcode.org/get-started