Find out how Revolent is leveraging its experience with cross-training to solve the Data Engineer skills gap by creating a new talent program, co-designed with Databricks.
Since Revolent launched in 2020, we’ve been working hard to solve the tech skills gap by tapping into fresh talent pools to create net-new tech specialists who are trained, certified, and equipped with in-demand skills across the world’s leading technologies.
As a Databricks Consulting Partner, we’re now turning our attention to Databricks with the launch of our Databricks Data Engineer Talent Program. Designed in close collaboration with Databricks, the Data and AI company, this new program will train and place Databricks Data Engineers with businesses that sorely need this talent.
The growing need for Data Engineering skills
With AI products and services relying on comprehensive and clean data sets, businesses around the world are seeking to get more from their data. Named as a Leader of Q2 2024 in the Forrester Wave™: Data Lakehouses report, it’s no wonder that more and more organizations are turning to Databricks to process, store, and analyze large amounts of data.
But this unprecedented demand is putting a strain on Databricks’ talent pool, creating major challenges for businesses trying to hire skilled Data Engineers to help them make the most of this powerful data tool. Currently, there are more than 16,000 open roles for Data Engineers across the US and EMEA, showcasing the worldwide shortfall of qualified data specialists. As a result, talent is either unavailable in certain geographies, expensive to hire, or hard to retain.
Revolent’s new Talent Program will tackle this shortage of skilled Data Engineers and ensure that Databricks customers have access to the talent they need to maximize their return on investment without breaking the bank.
We hope that by creating new, business-ready professionals and putting that certified, enthusiastic talent right where it’s needed, we’ll be able to plug some of those skills gaps and help Databricks customers get the most out of their Databricks investment.”
Revolent’s Databricks Data Engineer Talent Program in a nutshell
Revolent will draw on its proven track record in cross-training experienced professionals, and its position as a Databricks Consulting Partner, to deliver high-quality training for budding Databricks Data Engineers. To date, Revolent has trained more than 1,000 tech professionals, helping them earn over 2,300 vendor certifications, and placing them with more than 175 clients around the world.
Created in partnership with Databricks, our program will tap into diverse talent pools to create certified, delivery-ready Databricks Data Engineers with relevant prior industry experience, bringing fresh perspectives to Databricks’ talent pool to support its growing customer base and ambitious growth projections.
The program will equip the consultants (or ‘Revols’) with the Lakehouse Fundamentals badge, Apache Spark™ Developer, and Data Engineer Associate certifications. They will also gain deployment-ready skills with tools like Airbyte, Airflow, FiveTran, and Tableau. These skills include data modeling, scripting, visualization, and data engineering patterns, ensuring that the Data Engineers are fully prepared for deployment.
Once the work placement has commenced, customers will be able to choose whether their new hires develop advanced capabilities in Data Engineering, generative AI, or Machine Learning, ensuring the Revols’ long-term success in their new careers.
How will the program help you find the right talent
The Databricks Data Engineer Talent Program is designed to help organizations like yours find the right people for your teams with zero capital investment.
We start by recruiting experienced candidates with a background in business or technology, looking for specific skill profiles tailored to your needs. We then equip them with Databricks skills, certifications, and hands-on experience with the platform.
Our program is led by Jim Burnham, a Databricks-accredited trainer and certified Databricks Data Engineer Associate, who’s a lifelong data engineering enthusiast. His rich practical experience as a Data Solution Architect enables him to equip budding Data Engineers with the skills and knowledge they need to make an immediate impact in their new roles.
“I’ve been involved in Data Engineering throughout my entire career,” says Jim, who boasts a long history of data engineering experience that includes creating programming languages for loading data into databases, developing and designing data flows for over 20 companies, and crafting data solutions using every data technology under the sun.
“Over time, I discovered that my favorite part was teaching and enabling the team to complete projects by increasing their skills,” he adds. “That’s when I came across Revolent. Everyone at Revolent is talented, fun, and committed to teaching promising tech professionals to become their best!”
Aiming to get the new Data Engineers working on real projects as soon as possible, Jim explains why the program will focus on practical application, along with additional training on crucial consultancy skills.
Once the Revols have completed the program, we place them with our clients’ teams, ready to make an immediate contribution to projects and business objectives. We continue to invest in their professional development, building specialized expertise in areas such as Advanced Data Engineering, Generative AI, or Machine Learning.
At the end of their placement, our clients can opt to transfer their Revols to their team on a permanent basis at no extra cost, further helping them to boost retention. In fact, 83% of our Revols to date have chosen to stay on with our clients.
What’s more, thanks to our inclusive approach to recruitment and upskilling, our talent programs help diversify your workforce and bring fresh perspectives to your team and the wider data ecosystem. Currently, more than half of our Revols come from an ethnic minority background, and 35% identify as women.
