In August 2022, Discover opened a customer care center in Chatham on Chicago's South Side. The company created the Chatham Technology Hub apprenticeship program to bring STEM education and employment opportunities to the community. The apprentice program supports employees as they learn new skills and find pathways to engaging, tech-focused careers.
A few of our apprentices from the Chatham Technology Hub shared their perspectives on how the program has changed the trajectory of their careers and their lives.
"Right after completing my associate in science degree in computer information systems, I started my career in IT as a Quality Assurance Analyst. I came to Discover as a contractor and started on the Business Technology team.
After transitioning to other roles at Discover within the Business Technology area, I was given the opportunity to join the Chatham Technology Hub as a Team Lead for the RPA apprentice team. With the help of other RPA Engineers, I became an RPA developer while leading the new RPA apprentice team.
Today, I mentor seven apprentices, and because of my time in the program, I'm continuing my education."
"As a Chicago native, I was excited to learn that I could grow my career in my hometown. After joining Discover’s customer care center in Chatham, I was looking for growth opportunities outside of customer service. I was excited when my manager referred me to the Chatham Technology Hub apprenticeship program.
Because of this program, I am now facilitating technology at Discover's customer care center in Chatham, and I can use my new skills to advance my career. This program gave me a purpose, and this apprenticeship opened my eyes to the exciting tech side of customer service."
"Discover was my first job after graduating community college. I started out at the customer center, and then I was interested in professional development. Once I learned about the Chatham Technology Hub apprenticeship program, I was excited about my career opportunities at Discover. Following the program, I gained the skills to transition my career to the tech space. Today, I work on RPA at Discover’s customer care center in Chatham.
The apprenticeship program was such a catalyst for my personal growth that I now work at identifying new apprentices and guiding them through the program. This program showed me that there is always a path forward. It’s amazing to see the confidence and skills that my colleagues gain when doing the program, and I’m so happy to say I was a part of that."
