Revature’s unique twist on training software developers

If you have an interest in software engineering, but aren’t quite sure where to start in the ever-daunting job hunt, the unique incentive structure at Revature might be something worthwhile.

Revature is a Reston-based technology talent company that is focused on training college graduates for in-demand dev positions — and securing their job placement.

Here’s how it works:

• Interested applicants apply online and then Revature selects a cohort of applicants for the interview process.
• Once successfully completing the interview stage, trainees are brought on to one of the 12 worksites for a three-month enterprise coding program. During the training, participants are paid and provided housing to help ease financial concerns of new college graduates.
• After successfully completing the program, participants are then placed at one of Revature’s client locations as software engineers including Accenture Federal and Capital One, among others.

In working for Revature, applicants are committing to maintaining employment with either Revature or their site location for at least two years. However, according to Chief Marketing Officer Joe Vacca, nearly 95 percent of employees go on to work for their site location and 65 percent of them get hired internally within the first year. Currently, Revature’s model is strictly focused on software engineering, but provides a berth of 16 different coursework focuses. And there’s hope that the model might expand beyond software engineering in the distant future.

Now, if you’re not a yet college graduate, but a student at one of these 10 universities, you’re still in luck. Revature offers online courses for students and preferential treatment for those interested in enrolling in the program upon matriculation. Even if your university isn’t on this list, be on the lookout in the coming months as Revature has plans for expansion in the DMV area.

It’s an intensive program, but Vacca insists that it’s a welcoming environment that provides participants with “all the things that they need to be successful in a company as a software engineer,” including communication skills, soft skills and agile development. In fact, you don’t have to be studying information sciences to get involved, you just need a passion software programming and a hunger to learn more.