From Pre-Apprentice to Employed as an Apprentice
Creation Date: 10/26/2022
Jorge Morin completed the City Colleges of Chicago pre-apprenticeship program, interviewed with Cognizant, and then was selected as an apprentice making $25 an hour with benefits.
Jorge Morin, 23, never imagined a career in tech.
“I never considered a career in tech because I was never exposed to tech,” the Chicago native said. “I didn’t learn how to use a computer until fifth grade. We used encyclopedias at school because they didn’t have computers.”
Instead, Morin studied engineering and architecture in college, ultimately specializing in fire protection and plumbing design. But he was curious about coding, and started learning it on the side. Then he learned about the Cognizant Full Stack Developer Apprenticeship Program.
“I love engineering, but I also love learning and trying new things,” he said.
Since starting the program, Morin feels like he’s learned another language and unlocked the secrets to the universe.
“I use software everyday,” he said. “But to finally understand how it’s working in the background is really cool. I was plateauing in engineering, but I feel like a kid again learning all this.”