Steven Reyes

Steven Reyes, a U.S. Army Veteran and Per Scholas graduate, currently works full-time in IT. He has earned his CompTIA A+ and Linux Admin certifications, as well as an Associate’s Degree, and is now aiming to deepen his foundational skills as he works towards additional certifications. Originally focused on cybersecurity, Steven has since shifted gears and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, having discovered his passion for IT support

Prior to attending Per Scholas, which launched his venture into tech, Steven’s background included positions at UPS, Sears, and Nike, along with service in the Illinois Army National Guard. Desiring a career change that would allow him to work in more of a corporate setting and grow in a constantly-evolving field, Steven began looking for ways to break into tech, and soon came across Per Scholas. He liked that Per Scholas courses, which take 3 months, would allow him to break into the field faster, and that they would provide him with hands-on training valued by employers.

Steven enrolled in Per Scholas Chicago’s IT Support course. With little tech experience beyond self-study, he found his time at Per Scholas to be an incredible way to gain the skills and training needed to break into the field. “I found that Per Scholas had laid the training out perfectly and was conducive to how I learned. There was both hands-on training and instruction, and they used visualization, which helped me a lot…The instructors were amazing and supportive the whole entire way and [my classmates] and I created study groups to help each other.”

Steven also found the professional development training portion of the course to be extremely helpful in preparing him for the professional side of entering the tech industry. “It was great to be able to talk about what it means to be in the industry successfully and professionally,” he reflected. “There was help with job interviews, which helped me with securing my current position. [The training] also helps in the workplace – learning how to manifest that professionalism and employ it in the workplace. [Our instructor] helped us understand what the workplace culture was going to be like, and the type of challenges we were going to face, and that really helped us as newcomers in the industry.”

After starting his career as an IT Support Specialist at Medcor, Steven has since advanced to a new role as a Help Desk Technician at the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman. He is thrilled to continue growing in the tech industry and is dedicated to further developing his skills. “It’s amazing to see what Per Scholas does for people,” Steven said. “Essentially bringing them from knowing nothing about tech or hardware or software, and preparing them to be able to enter the industry…Per Scholas really solidified my pathway into entering the technology industry. It’s allowed me to build the sort of life I want for myself and my future.”