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PC ProSchools Grad Lands Career Right Out of High School

pcpro / June 10, 2011 / No comments

Timothy Heller, a recent PC Pro Schools graduate completed the program in January and shares his experience of gaining computer certifications and entering the IT industry with a career in computers:

I came to PC ProSchools almost right after finishing high school, and I didn’t have a job at that time.  I just wanted to start a career with computers and PC ProSchools seemed like the perfect choice.  I love computers.  I’ve been around them nearly my whole life, and I wanted to start a career that I knew I would be happy with. PC Pro Schools gave me the tools to do just that.

Now I have a promising start of a career with a strong and competitive company.  There is no “typical” day because I deal with literally around a hundred people every day.  Each situation is different.  You don’t know what to expect, but I like it, and have PC Pro to thank.

Honestly, I used to hate going to school. I hated the idea of a 4-year college degree that forces you to take unnecessary classes such as history.  I mean, what does that have to do with computing? So when I heard the course at PC ProSchools was only a few months long I couldn’t wait to hear why. When I heard why, I couldn’t wait to get started.

The blending learning program was amazing. I loved how the program was adaptive. I could watch online videos any time I wanted during the week, then come in to the scheduled class, get a broader understanding of the subject, and if needed, get a little 1 on 1 time with an instructor after class. I enjoyed the instructors’ enthusiasm and teaching styles, as well as the accommodations made for people of different learning styles.

The career services are great at PC ProSchools.  I still am getting e-mails about job leads, even though I’m employed. I really admire that because even though I’m currently employed, I still would like to know what’s available out there in case anything happens.

Simply put, I don’t think I’d have a decent job, or the start of a computer career without PC ProSchools. I really believe it has put me on a path to success. Without PC ProSchools, I definitely wouldn’t have known about the job I’m at, or that I was qualified for it.

I would recommend PC ProSchools to pretty much anyone that actually has an interest in computers. With the way the course is set up, previous technical knowledge would help, but isn’t actually necessary. Anyone dedicated enough could successfully complete the course. Anyone.

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Category: Computers, Graduate Testimonial, PC Pro Schools, pcpro.edu, Student Success Stories / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Networking and Job Search Opportunties for MKE area

pcpro / June 8, 2011 / No comments
Brew City HDI

The following are two great events for anyone in the Milwaukee area who is job-searching, looking to increase their skills, or simply seeking to expand their network.  Both events require registration and will be happening later this month:

Image via Brew City HDI

Brew City HDI Social Media Event

Brew City HDI is an IT Service and Technical Support Community.  This latest event is the last event of the regular season and is titled, “What is the Root of Corporate Policies for Social Media?”  The speaker will be Bill Caraher – CIO, von Briesen, (Source: Brew City HDI).  The event will take place on June 21st at Thomson Reuters in Brookfield:

Thomson Reuters
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
250 N. Sunnyslope Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
5:30PM

Click for details and registration.

Milwaukee Job Fair

Milwaukee Downtown

Image via Wikipedia

This Milwaukee job fair is sponsored by Catalyst Career Group and will take place in Brookfield on June 21:

Brookfield Suites Hotel
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
1200 South Moorland Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
10:00AM – 1:00PM

  • Pre-register. Some companies review the resumes before the event and may personally invite you to meet with them
  • Dress Professionally. First impressions go a long way
  • Bring 15-25 resumes
  • Plan to spend 45 minutes to 1 hour at the event
  • Bring a friend. All job seekers are welcome
  • Prepare a brief but effective “brag” to let the people you meet get to know you
  • Keep an open mind. Meet with as many companies as you can; you may be pleasantly surprised at what you find (Source: Catalyst Career Group).

Click for more details and registration.


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Category: Career Changing Advice, Computers, Miscellaneous, PC Pro Schools, pcpro.edu / Tags: , , , , ,

PC Pro Grad Shares Recent Sucess

pcpro / May 16, 2011 / No comments

A PC Pro graduate who completed the program in March shares her experience at PC ProSchools and how her life has changed since graduation:


Before coming to PC Pro, I was unemployed for more than 2 years.  My last job was working for a large bank located in Kalamazoo and my position was sent off-shore to India.   I was really getting discouraged in my job search.  No one was even responding to my resumes.  I knew I needed to “re-invent” myself so that I could find a career that was pretty recession proof.   I have been in health care before and I knew I didn’t want that again.  A friend who was going to PC Pro recommended it to me.  I wasn’t sure I was going to be “good at computers” – I was more of an “enthusiastic end-user” than a gamer or a “geek.”  But after meeting the staff at PC Pro in Grand Rapids I knew it was something I could definitely do!

I am now the Technical Administrative Assistant at an IT department and LOVING it!

After being unemployed for 2 years, I was looking for something that was FAST as well as thorough.  I checked into some of the programs that were closer to home, but decided that PC Pro was going to get me where I wanted to go in the shortest time possible.

If someone was willing to put in the time and effort to really push themselves I would definitely recommend PC Pro.  It isn’t always easy (maybe I should say it’s never EASY!) but the staff there is always willing to help and you have all sorts of resources available to you.  I described the process as someone as opening up your skull and then dumping the information in by the bucketful.  Intense – without a doubt but the shear volume of information that you process is unbelievable!

I am the administrative assistant to a small but VERY active IT department – we are running 8 AD servers, serving about 150 staff and 4,000+ tribal citizens.  It’s my job to keep everyone running in the same direction.  Although I’m not currently involved with the server side of the department (yet) my boss says that it is great that I understand the technology (and the vocabulary) so that they have a lot of flexibility to use me.  I love the folks that I am working with, I feel valued by them (and the excellent benefits and salary don’t hurt either!).

The career services team at PC Pro was helpful in a lot of different ways for me.  First and foremost, career services was always very positive and encouraging to me – they KNEW that I would find something that I was going to love – and they were right.  I saw our “relationship” as a team process – they weren’t going to find a job for me – that was my responsibility.  Career services was able to open some doors for me, and they gave me great advice on my resume and interview skills.

The staff at PC Pro Grand Rapids is outstanding.  They kept me coming back when I was ready to give up and were with me the through the entire process.  I had a fantastic instructor!  He was able to take a roomful of students at ALL levels of knowledge and make sure that we all knew what was going on.

I’ll be honest – the blended learning program isn’t for everyone – it takes dedication and perseverance – but if you are really committed to it, you CAN do it!

My life is unbelievable now – great job working with wonderful people…my son says it’s so nice to see me smiling all the time now.  We will be able to do the things (like go on a family vacation) that we have always wanted to but couldn’t afford.  PC Pro has made all the difference.


Category: Computers, PC Pro Schools, pcpro.edu, Student Success Stories / Tags: , , , , ,

Computer Recycling Earth Day Event

pcpro / March 23, 2011 / No comments
"The Blue Marble" is a famous photog...

Image via Wikipedia

PC ProSchools Students and Grads are excited to team with up IndependenceFirst for their second annual computer recycling drive for Earth Day. Charlotte Zarnoth, Volunteer Coordinator for IndependenceFirst is seeking individuals who’d be interested in volunteering to help the day of the drive.

Like in 2010, the drive will be advertised so people can bring their old/used computer components to the IndependenceFirst office.  The computers and monitors are tested to see if they work at all, those that do work will be saved for our computer recycling program and the rest will be sent to a recycler who will dispose of them properly.  Our students and graduates will be making these computer evaluations.

Here’s the information about the event:

Day:            Saturday, April 16th

Time:          8:30 – 3:00

Place:         IndependenceFirst

540 S. 1st Street

Milwaukee, WI 53204

Please contact Laura Polancich, lpolancich@pcpro.edu if you’d like to participate!

Category: Computers / Tags: ,

Another PC Pro student starts his IT career before graduating!

pcpro / March 1, 2011 / No comments
MCSA adriarichards

Image by adria.richards via Flickr

Another student starts his IT career before graduating! Chris is still an active student, but he finished his MCP and MCDST and was really on top of things with his communication with his Career Advisor, submitting his resume and career search.   So when his Career Advisor called a national tech company and they needed someone to start 4 days later, Chris moved his classes from day to night immediately and was hired based on his fabulous personality and skill set. He was hired for a Help Desk role.  Chris absolutely loves his job and several students from this track have become a lot more aggressive in their job search. It’s a good thing, but the IT industry needs them! FAST!

Category: Student Job Announcement / Tags: , , ,

PC Pro Student Lands Job Before Graduation

pcpro / February 28, 2011 / No comments

Congratulations to our newest Network Technician! Ian landed a new job before he even graduated!!!! Ian was working as a manager of information systems at a hotel and now works for a national radiological practice as a network technician, which he found through networking and being aggressive with his job search, updating his resume consistently and talking with his PC Pro Career Advisor at least twice a week to make sure he shouldn’t be doing more. Ian is a fabulous candidate and they are lucky to have him.


Category: Student Job Announcement / Tags: , ,

Big Day for Job Placements at PC ProSchools!

pcpro / February 25, 2011 / No comments

We had a HUGE day at our Indianapolis Campus yesterday. A major telecommunications company came to conduct on-campus interviews with several students and 9 of them were HIRED on the spot! The company was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and technical skills of our students and graduates! The students loved that they could comfortably come to “their turf” to interview. They said it made the whole process less intimidating! “Interviewing  here at campus made me feel like I was just coming into class, only today, I left with a JOB!!!! Thanks PC Pro!”

Our Manager of Career Services, Laura, worked diligently to coordinate this entire process. She personally scheduled each student interview with the hiring company and followed up with each one. After the first 2 hours, 5 students had already been hired and Laura was beaming! I never doubt the commitment of my entire career services team! They love that their job is to get jobs!

Category: Student Job Announcement, Student Success Stories / Tags: , ,

Happy Valentine’s Day from PC ProSchools

pcpro / February 14, 2011 / No comments


Do you have loved ones? Do they rely on you for more than just your love? I see so many prospective students using the excuses of family and friends as to why they can’t commit to a career change! Seriously!!! Love yourself first and take care of you… then the rest will fall in line! Let Cupid’s arrow hit YOU this Valentine’s Day! Give yourself the love and attention you need to be able to share it and live the life you were meant to live!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Category: Computers, Miscellaneous / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Another Foot in the Door for PC ProSchools

pcpro / February 11, 2011 / No comments

Taryn interviewed for a contract position. The manager liked her so much, they ended up offering her a job there as an IT Recruiter! She is excited to work with IT professionals and hiring managers now that she has the knowledge from her classes at PC Pro. We know this will open SOOOOOOOOO many more doors for our graduates! We look forward to partnering with Taryn! From Student to Colleague! We love it!

Category: Computers, Miscellaneous / Tags: , , ,

Promotion for PC ProSchools Grad Opens Opportunities for More Students

pcpro / February 3, 2011 / One comment

Mary was working entry level help desk and shortly after enrolling in PC ProSchools she found another job at a local company leading to increased responsibility and compensation. She had such a great relationship with her old company, that we are actually now working with them to replace her with an intern from PC Pro. It’s exciting to see our students move up in the field, opening up new opportunities for upcoming grads.

Category: Career Changing Advice, Computers, Miscellaneous / Tags: , , , , , ,
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