ExperienceIT: A Training Program For Aspiring Technologists

If you had asked me what I wanted to do with my life back in my school days, technology was definitely not on my list. I used to think that programming is a magical talent that only belonged to the realm of computer whizzes – my perspective changed with ExperienceIT. Mind you, it still feels magical to me, but it’s a skill set that can be learned with lots of patience and practice – just like in sports, arts or anything else in life.  

In 2013, I was new to Detroit after having moved from Boston with a fresh degree in business administration. I moved to Detroit wanting to help the city with its revitalization endeavor and to make a meaningful impact in the community. While I was exploring opportunities in 2016, I became interested in technology and discovered ExperienceIT. It turned out to be one of the best life-changing decisions I have ever made.

For those who aren’t familiar with ExperienceIT, it’s a free training program organized by leading tech companies and partner organizations to help grow aspiring tech professionals in the city of Detroit since 2012. My 2016 cohort had 42 students of various backgrounds, and we attended 10 weeks of full-time classes together at Grand Circus, a leading tech-focused training school with campuses in Detroit and Grand Rapids. We had two dedicated instructors – half of us learned .NET (C#) while the other half learned Java. The format of the program has changed since then. Now it’s a 12-week long, mostly self-instructed learning with class meetings twice a week in downtown Detroit, facilitated by experienced mentors and professionals from partner companies. Last year’s curriculum included Java and Salesforce. The structures for group project work and soft skill training were similar to the process I went through, and students also had the opportunity to visit companies and establish networks.

Speaking of soft skills, one of my key takeaways from ExperienceIT was the importance of teamwork – the concept that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” That was true for my group project where we struggled to work together at first. Only after we improved our communication and learned to appreciate everyone’s perspectives were we able to successfully push through difficulties and accomplish our goals. This still applies to my day-to-day work. It takes a team to be able to view a challenge from different angles, bounce off ideas, bring out the best in each other and make magic happen.

Today, I work at Rocket Homes Real Estate LLC as a Salesforce Administrator after having transitioned from the initial software developer position and I couldn’t be happier with my choice of company. After graduating from ExperienceIT and going through the interview process with partner companies, I was fortunate to have received multiple offers and I felt Rocket Homes would be the best fit given my interest in real estate. I love the work I do and the amazing people I work with, and I’m very proud to be a part of a great company that’s committed to the community. Especially in unprecedented times like this, I feel truly grateful for what I have and where I am today thanks to ExperienceIT.

If you are interested in participating in ExperienceIT, you can find more information at ExperienceITDetroit.com.

If you are interested in working at Rocket Companies^®, check out open positions at MyRocketCareer.com.