In late April Calbright formally launched its first apprenticeship partnership, with Bitwise Industries, and California is noticing!
Writing in EdSource, reporter Ashley Smith interviewed Paige Davis, a Calbright graduate and new Bitwise apprentice.
“Davis, who has worked various odd jobs, said she focused on finishing the (Calbright) certificate quickly to get a better-paying job,” Smith wrote:
“I did the program really fast … but I knew I had to put in the work in order to get where I wanted to be,” Davis said, adding that the certificate can usually take eight to 10 months to complete. “It’s just me in California, and I don’t have a lot of family, and I don’t have a large support system, so if something fails, I can’t just call a friend. I had to make sure that I’m stable and safe and all of those things that you hope to be as an adult.”
Davis, who will earn $25 an hour in the yearlong apprenticeship, is optimistic the position will lead to a full-time job. The median annual salary for people with customer relationship management skills is $63,000. Bitwise employs people with an annual salary range between $60,000 and $80,000.
“I definitely want to be a part of this program,” Davis said. “So far, it’s been incredible. I’ve worked in the corporate world before, and this is nothing like that. Everyone has been so welcoming and really wants you to be who you are as a whole person.”
The article also interviews Michael Younger, Calbright’s vice president of workforce, strategy and innovation, who spoke about Calbright’s increasing enrollment and approach to workforce partnerships.
