Graduate success stories

Victor Chege - Creating IT Futures - IT Ready

New Service Desk Agent for the City of Minneapolis, Victor Chege is an immigrant from Kenya with an IT background. Upon arrival, he had a tough time getting into the IT industry in the US, and resorted to cleaning jobs to make ends meet. He decided to enroll in an IT training institute that went bankrupt mid-way through his training, and left the program without the money he had invested so far. Then he learned about the Creating IT Futures Foundation’s IT Ready program – a free, eight-week training program that offers the technical and professional skills that prepares individuals for a CompTIA A+ certification and a successful on ramp into the IT industry. Successful graduates are connected to employers for a 6-month paid work experience opportunity or full time employment. Alumni are also eligible for additional free online training and certifications. He thought it sounded too good to be true, but decided to apply. He was accepted into the program and graduated at the top of his class. Upon completion, he landed an IT Service Desk Agent job with the City of Minneapolis and is thrilled to be part of the team. Victor is already pursuing additional IT training and certifications.

Chelsea Okey - PRIME Digital Academy 

Chelsea Okey is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and is a U.S. Army veteran. Seeking a career change, Chelsea debated going back to school for computer science but chose to attend PRIME Digital Academy, an 18-week computer programming course, because of the relevant skills she would learn in addition to its short length and affordability. Now a software engineer at the Minneapolis-based company SmartThings, she recognizes PRIME for preparing her for the fast pace of the tech industry and giving her a foot in the door to a career that fit her goals. While technology is an evolving industry, Chelsea states that more diversity is necessary to bring new ideas, and build stronger end-products. One of PRIME’s greatest benefits is the opportunity it gives those from non-technology backgrounds to be a part of the field.

Chad Rehm – The Software Guild

Chad Rehm was a Tool Designer looking to make a change to a more fulfilling career. He saw an exciting opportunity to enter the software development industry by completing a full-time, fully immersive, 12 week Web Development training course through the Software Guild. After further research, he knew this was just the program he was looking for to help him gain the necessary skills to successfully enter the software development industry as a junior software developer. Not only did Chad gain the relevant technical skills needed to attract potential employers, but was also given soft skills training through one-on-one resume reviews, mock interviews from top recruiters and multiple interviews with employers that were actively seeking to fill entry level software development positions. Chad was able to secure a great job as a Web Developer/Consultant for Kinetic Data in Saint Paul MN, within weeks of graduating. He found that the education and experiences he gained from the Software Guild prepared him with the confidence and skills needed to be a world class beginner.

Employer testimonials

Kaitlyn was fully capable of making a contribution on ‘day one!’ Our new hire is a pragmatic problem solver who is capable of leading projects, working in teams, and communicating well with both our staff and customers. The experiential learning and real-world projects provided during Kaitlyn’s training made the difference in our hiring decision. We hired based on this training, and not on a requisite college degree. We would recommend TechHire candidates to companies searching for top-tier talent!

— Tom O’Neill, President of the Nerdery.

Prime teaches students how to think like a developer in ways that can't ever be taught in a traditional classroom. The methods of collaboration they learn is incredibly well aligned with a professional position and with those skills, they can quickly come up to speed on any technology they may appear 'light' in.” - Empulse “That this was a great experience and seeing so many folks truly interested in development because of what it allows them to do and how it allows them to solve problems is a refreshing change to the average 4-year program candidate.” -CRC Marketing Solutions“100% worth your time. It was one of the most positive recruiting experiences I've ever had - in any field, not just tech - and I'll be singing its praises and telling my friends (who are also on the prowl for solid development staff) about Prime. 

— Mall of America

The IT-Ready workers came in with some excellent technical training, as well as soft skills training that they need in order to quickly integrate into our company. sx After experiencing the success of IT-Ready graduates, it became clear that IT-Ready training was exactly what we are looking for in new entry-level hires. Not only are these employees technically trained, they have a wonderful attitude and are totally engaged in their work environment.

— Enterprise Support Centers, HealthPartners

Our experience with IT-Ready grads has been very positive. Since Virteva is a managed services provider, our new hires can face a steep learning curve. But because they’ve gone through the rigors of the IT-Ready program and certification process, graduates have already demonstrated an aptitude for the work, as well as the ability to quickly learn and assimilate new skills.

— Virveta

I was looking for candidates or potential training grounds for tech support candidates, and saw IT-Ready. I was thrilled to learn IT-Ready certifies both the technical and soft skills we are looking for. Because we're a relatively small company, we call on each team member to wear a lot of hats.

— OurWizardFamily.com