Pros
The Tech Analyst Program here is one of a kind – ideal for graduates who are looking to build their careers learning and working with some cutting edge technologies at some of the biggest names in the industry. My experience here started when I joined after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in CS in 2009; one of the worst times to graduate due to the financial crisis. Being an international student and needing sponsorship to stay and remain in the US, I was desperate for opportunities but unwilling to compromise and take up entry level positions, especially those that were not challenging or providing the right platform for me develop my Tech skill set. I was in a state of quandary, as it seemed like none of the big names were keen to make the financial outlay to sponsor and hire international students. I was about to give up hope and planning to return to India when a friend recommended GCIT. It seemed like a great opportunity, as they were recruiting for their Tech Analyst Program for folks interested in careers in Java and willing to sponsor folks like me for a H1-B visa. After a very rigorous interviewing process which included an Online test, followed by a Tech Interview and finally a Client Services team interview at their Washington DC office, luck was on my side and I was extended an opportunity to work using Java JSF at their project at JP Morgan Chase in Wilmington, Delaware. It was kind of ironic that I would be ending up working at JPMC as they had come interviewing on campus but had not extended an offer. Before I started at JPMC, I went through an on-boarding process at the GCIT facility in Tyson’s Corner, VA where I went through close to 6 weeks of very intensive Java training. This was very demanding as this was very hands on and required all day training for 5 days a week, for 5 weeks without break and included visits to the JPMC project location where I got the chance to meet and work alongside developers who were already deployed at the JPMC Project. The hands on along with customized training tailored to the project where I was going to be deployed greatly helped me in developing my Java skills and building confidence in my abilities. As part of the Tech Analyst Program you have the option to rotate either within the same organization or change domains after one year at a client. Hence after year one, I ended up opting to work on the Ebay project in CA. Apart from being on the West Coast, this opportunity gave me the chance to get involved in real time analytics using Big Data, Hadoop and MapReduce and opened a totally new world in technology to me. Today, close to 5 years after being out of college, on my second H1-B visa and with projects at JPMC, Ebay, Goldman Sachs and Amazon; I’ve transitioned from being a Java Developer to a Hadoop Developer and am enjoying every bit of this ever changing dynamic world within Big Data. Looking back its been an awesome journey and am every thankful to destiny that I did not in desperation settle for a dead end career like some of my friends did at that time.
Cons
Over the years, the company has become very selective in it’s recruiting (mainly recruiting from top programs) and I feel that they may be overlooking many candidates who given the type of mentoring and training that I received when I started could be great resources.
