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Steven Scholtes had always dreamed of working in the information technology (IT) industry, but for years he worked in the retail and restaurant industries to get by. That didn’t last. “I had a job dishwashing and cooking in a restaurant,…

Julie Parker was in a difficult position in September 2019. She was just laid off from her job in Omaha’s healthcare industry and her confidence was at an all-time low. She felt discouraged about her job search because she is…

As an educator in her native Pakistan, Saira Mirza had a wonderful career where she helped children gain digital literacy skills. “Children would love coming to my computer class!” recalls Saira. In 2002, Saira moved from Pakistan to Garfield, Minnesota…

Marse Visnevac was pursuing his bachelor’s degree in information technology when he heard about National Able Network’s IT Career Lab program. Marse was very eager to fulfill his career goals, and after attending an information session to learn more about…

The tech industry has always struggled with inclusion. Even as recently as 2019, women only held about a quarter of all jobs in the computing field, even though they make up 47 percent of the workforce overall. And although the…

John Childs earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology with an emphasis in Network Management. He was able to land work by freelancing for small businesses to fix computers and other electronics, but John also worked a second job at…

Joe Simanis, an electrical engineer by trade, began work in a sales position within a technology organization. He continued this career path for many years, and he ultimately perfected his skills in sales. Unfortunately, due to a layoff, Joe was…

On September 16, 2018, Roberto Reyes was told he was being watched by the Cuban government for expressing his opinions freely online. He knew what this meant, and he knew he had to leave. He had been taken prisoner for…

Jose Enrique Rodriguez, an Army Veteran, who is originally from Puerto Rico, moved to Chicago more than 10 years ago. When he transitioned into a civilian career after his military service, Jose found success working in sales and insurance. Although…

Research shows that by 2021, organizations will increase the number of jobs requiring data analysis skills. As an institution that prides itself on staying ahead of the curve, IT Career Lab is ready to help people gain these skills, so…