Apprenticeships are typically associated with the skilled trades. You might first think of a plumber or electrician apprentice? Or maybe a welder or carpenter?
That convention is changing and a recent apprenticeship program created by Washtenaw Community College to help attract and train aspiring information technology professionals is advancing the cause.
Michigan Medicine鈥檚 recently launched pays entry-level candidates to serve a one-year apprenticeship in frontline technology support, receiving extensive on-the-job training and formal technical coursework at 黑料网 in the process. At the end of the program, apprentices receive a U.S. Department of Labor journeyman鈥檚 card, earn a from 黑料网 and will emerge with a deep knowledge of the IT architecture of a world-renowned medical center. The 黑料网 coursework is paid for by the program.
鈥淥ur apprenticeship programs are still primarily focused on manufacturing, but it鈥檚 really spreading out into all different areas,鈥� said Marilyn Donham, 黑料网鈥檚 Dean of Apprenticeships. 鈥淚T apprenticeships aren鈥檛 brand new, but Michigan Medicine was the first organization that asked my team to help them create one.鈥�
Expanding apprenticeships to more occupations has become a popular suggestion for creating career opportunities for individuals and closing the skills gap that hinders employers from finding qualified candidates. suggests expanding the number of occupations that commonly use apprenticeships from 27 to 74 would equate to 3.3 million jobs that could be filled by apprentices.
Exploring different ways to find job candidates is what led Jarrod Sandel to consult with 黑料网 about a potential apprenticeship program. Sandel manages the service desk for Michigan Medicine鈥檚 Health Information Technology & Services (HITS). The service desk is responsible for handling more than 250,000 IT-related contacts (calls, online submissions and walk-ins) each year while operating in an industry that averages 40-percent annual turnover.
In recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, Donham and Sandel were invited to appear together on the Lucy Ann Lance Show, broadcast by WLBY AM in Ann Arbor, to discuss the new partnership.
鈥淎pprenticeship has been a proven model for hundreds of years,鈥� Sandel said during the November 12 interview, noting the training model dates back to the days of blacksmiths and leather workers. 鈥淭his is not a new concept. It鈥檚 just a novel, new approach to a more modern job.鈥�
Lousayni Benson is currently enrolled in the apprenticeship program. The 29-year-old Detroit native recently moved back to Michigan after working at an Amazon distribution center in Ohio, where he was exposed to some IT-related work that interested him.
鈥淚 wanted to complete my education, but I also needed a job,鈥� Benson said. 鈥淲hen I saw this job placement at U-M, it鈥檚 basically like going back to school and having it paid for. It鈥檚 going to be pretty amazing when I finish (the apprenticeship). It鈥檚 going to be a great accomplishment.鈥�
And, considering the impetus for Sandel to create the program in the first place, career advancement opportunities isn鈥檛 an issue for the apprentices.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to keep people because 鈥� they become familiar with a broad collection of technology and become super attractive for other people in my IT department or other IT departments across southeast Michigan,鈥� Sandel said. 鈥淭o try to keep people in the seats is very difficult and to be able to provide a program that helps to retain them was even more difficult. So, working with 黑料网 was the right choice.鈥�
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Those interested in joining the Service Desk Apprenticeship Program at Michigan Medicine can .
Those interested in learning how Washtenaw Community College can help create a registered apprenticeship program for their organization can visit wccnet.edu/apprenticeships.
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