The Health Information Technology & Services (HITS) Service Desk is searching for students, recent graduates, or other qualified workers to join its entry-level apprenticeship program.
The program is a partnership between Michigan Medicine and Washtenaw Community College (WCC). Since it began in 2018, the apprenticeship program has had four employees. This fall, however, the program plans to hire at least six apprentices.
Apprentices for the Service Desk will provide customer service to the Michigan Medicine community, including clinicians, students, patients, and their families. Apprentices also have the opportunity to work in a professional IT department by participating in team meetings and other IT improvement tasks.
With $14 per hour hiring rates for student labor and a fully paid WCC certificate, the program creates an atmosphere of receptiveness and more maneuvers for apprentices to climb the ladder within the HITS service desk department. A possibility for redemption and higher employment have motivated past apprentices to excel within their positions—especially since raises begin after three months of employment.
“I love seeing the apprentices gain the initial confidence to go from theory to practice,” said Jarrod Sandel, manager of the HITS Service Desk. “Apprenticeship works because it pairs formal technical training with practical application; our apprentices are professionals after only a few weeks. It’s so exciting to see them develop so quickly!”
Through a traditional hiring process, Sandel hopes that meeting and collaborating with potential candidates helps to better understand how the program should be adjusted according to the candidate’s or the program’s need.
“Attracting talent is the primary reason I created this program. Contact centers will always have turnover, and trying to hire people off the street yields inconsistent results. Growing talent internally for future hires is a major advantage.”
