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TechApprentice

TechApprentice is a partnership of: BATEC, TechBoston/Boston Public Schools (BPS), Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) and The BPS Office of Instructional and Information Technology (OIIT)

IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYER and want to hire a student, download an internship recruitment form.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT download a template to use in preparing your resume or click here for an application

Overview

The Tech Apprentice Program is a seven-week internship opportunity at local companies for technology skilled high school juniors & seniors from Boston and the Metro Boston area. These talented high school students are considering pursuing IT majors in college and they need a work-based experience to focus their efforts and understand the options available to them in the high tech arena. The internship program runs for seven weeks in the summer from July 6 through August 20, 2010. Prior to the program start date, students participate in a mandatory business etiquette orientation. Students are paid $10/hour for 35 hours/week.

Since its pilot summer of 2006, over 50 Boston-area companies have participated and over 200 high school students have been successfully placed in challenging IT internships. Tech Apprentices work across a diverse number of industries: financial services, healthcare, non-profit, higher education, media and information technology. Several students worked on desktop support and helpdesk teams; others on web development teams; another talented student created an Apache web service front end with a MySQL backend database. From software programmers to web designers and videographers, hundreds of talented Boston Public School students have spent their summers as Tech Apprentices--contributing their talents and learning new skills that could be very helpful to them in their future endeavors in the IT industry.

How does it work?

Boston Private Industry
Council’s Role

Student’s
Role

Senior Executive’s
Role

1. Recruit and screen high school students enrolled in IT classes in Boston.

2. Provide no-fee referral service of candidates for placement and coordinate interviews.

3. Host pre-placement workplace etiquette seminar to prepare Apprentices for the professional IT environment.

4. Provide full-time support for managers and Tech Apprentices throughout the summer.

1. Submit resume and application; attend screening interview; if selected.

2. Interview with companies seeking to hire a Tech Apprentice.

3. If hired, commit to working 35 hours/week over the summer.

4. Complete all tasks assigned by their supervisor.

1. Designate a workplace supervisor for the student; identify projects/role for intern.

2. Workplace supervisor will select candidates for interviews; ONLY hire when there is a good fit.

3. Arrange to pay the student $10/hour, 35 hours a week, for 7 weeks.

4. Provide mentoring and advice to Tech Apprentices about pursuing a career in IT.

View a PowerPoint slide show of the Tech Apprentice Program

For more information, please contact:

Cecilia Oyediran
TechBoston Employer Organizer
Boston Private Industry Council
Email: cecilia.oyediran@bostonpic.org
Phone: 617.488.1328 or 617-799-4264

2010 Key Dates

February 8th, 2010- Tech Apprentice recruitment breakfast at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts from 8:00-9:30am.

March - Student recruitment begins at various schools

April and May - Internship Forms Processed; Interviews conducted; Applicants notified

June - Finalize placements for Tech Apprentice 2010

June - Tech Apprentice pre-placement orientation/training (Boston PIC)

TBD - Supervisor orientation

7/6 - 7-week internship begins

8/19 - Celebration luncheon

8/20 - Last day of internship (company has option to extend internship)

~Testimonials from Tech Apprentices~

"I think the program is wonderful; it gives the youth the opportunity to witness and engage in the real working world. I encourage this program to continue because it is very successful…the things I learned from this program can’t be taught in school."

"The Tech Apprentice program is a great opportunity for students to explore and gain experience. This program has allowed me to share my skills and allow me to network and meet new people."

"This program is an unbelievable jump start if you are looking for a career in technology…it gives you a decent amount experience and knowledge needed to pursue you dreams."

"I thought the program was great overall. I kind of wish I had known of this program before senior year. I can tell that many high-level businesses and universities took part in this program, which is great for the students."

"I think the program is wonderful and it gives us youth, an opportunity to witness and engage the real working world. I encourage this program to continue because it is very successful."

"This internship really got me thinking about what I should really major in and how enjoying an IT job may be and how much freedom these jobs may offer."

"This program is wonderful and I insist it should be continued and be given to more high school students who are interested in the fields of IT."

~Testimonials from Managers of Tech Apprentices~

"It was great working with our two interns. They were enthusiastic and proved to be valuable assets to our summer team."

"Our student had excellent technical skills, especially for a person of his age. If I were to rate him on technical skills and deliverables alone, it would be an A+."

"Working with our intern was a real morale boost for our teams, even beyond the work that he helped us to accomplish. It was great to experience that enthusiasm again, and to know that we were helping him get a chance to do something that most of us would have liked to do at his age. I would certainly consider working with a student of a similar caliber again."

"We felt the Tech Apprentice program was well thought out and effective. The program provided significant support to both the student and our staff. The program staff was always willing and available to step in keep the program focused."

"The student the program provided was technically exceptional for his age and peer group. He was able to present himself professionally and articulate his ideas and concepts to team members and clinical staff. The position required a certain level of self motivation, which the program staff assisted us in keeping on track."

"The technical aptitude of our apprentice was outstanding! In a short period, he learned and helped introduced a new technology now being used across the Company ...and still works part time for us."

"This is a quality program - from identifying top notch students to prepping them (and us) for the task and then providing great support and follow up. Everything was done efficiently and well."