u/metalreflectslime wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
A long time ago, a Formation student could get supported by Formation forever until he or she found a paid SWE job that they accepted. Now, Formation ends the support after 15 months. Why did Formation make this change? How do Formation students feel about this change?
u/michaelnovati replied · ★ FEATURED
Quick correction: For newer agreements, our contract allows Formation to end the program after 15 months. That isn’t an automatic cutoff, and it’s not something we’re looking to use against people who are actively and honestly job searching.
**Important:** If you’re on an older contract that does *not* include a time limit, that agreement remains valid and we fully intend to honor it.
**How we handle the 15-month clause in practice:**
If someone is **still actively engaged** (showing up, doing the work, applying/interviewing in good faith, communicating with the team), we can and often do **extend** support beyond 15 months when there are reasonable circumstances.
**Why we added the 15-month term (3 reasons):**
1. **Clarity for accounting/finance.** An open-ended service period is unusual and creates ambiguity; having a defined term makes planning and accounting more standard.
2. **A clean way to handle people who disengage completely.** In any remote program, some folks stop participating or disappear after we’ve already invested significant mentor time. This provides a clear, written boundary we can point to if someone is no longer participating.
3. **Encouraging consistent ownership of the job hunt.** People make the most progress when they stay steady and engaged. A clear boundary helps set expectations and keeps momentum.