Thomas Rowswell

For 16 years, Thomas Rowswell was the definition of a foundational employee. He joined a video surveillance startup when it was just a handful of people in a room with ten clients. He didn’t just work there; he helped build the company from the ground up, watching it scale to 60 employees and hundreds of accounts. But after a decade and a half, the spark had left.

“I just kind of lost my drive there,” Thomas admits. “I wasn’t enjoying going to work. I didn’t like what was going on. So, I decided to leave that industry and search out something new for myself.”

He knew he wanted to be in IT, but after many years at a small company, he felt like a fish out of water in the modern tech landscape. That’s when a video for Per Scholas appeared in his feed, sent by his partner with a note: “It sounds too good to be true, but look into it.”

Thomas enrolled in the Data Center Technician program at Per Scholas Phoenix, but he quickly realized the curriculum offered more than just server racks and cabling. It offered the skills required to work for a global tech giant.

He credits the Per Scholas Learner Development team with his professional transformation: “They assisted me with completely re-understanding how to show myself as a professional human.”

From a total resume overhaul to a LinkedIn strategy that actually got noticed, Thomas was finally equipped with the tools to operate at a high level. 

This is where the power of the Per Scholas ecosystem truly shines. Thomas didn’t just graduate and start throwing resumes into the void. Instead, he was funneled into a specialized partnership between Per Scholas and TEKsystems.

Before he even finished his cohort, Thomas was interviewing for the Microsoft Rising Talent Program—a strategic initiative designed to find high-potential learners and place them directly into the heart of Microsoft’s infrastructure. 

The partnership removed barriers to entry. “There was no startup cost,” Thomas explains. “They made sure we had all the safety gear and tools we needed. In most industries, it’s on you to provide that. Here, they put their energy behind us to make sure we succeeded from day one.”

Thomas entered the Microsoft data center as a contracted Datacenter Technician through TEKsystems. It was the ultimate foot-in-the-door, allowing him to showcase his work ethic to Microsoft leadership in real time. He wasn’t just another applicant; he was a proven commodity.

By the end of his contract, Microsoft didn’t just offer him a permanent spot—they hired him as a Level 2 Technician (ARTC), a role above the standard entry-level position. For a guy who dreamed of working in tech since he was a teenager, the reality was staggering.

“Working for Microsoft… that’s been a dream of mine. Their acceptance rates are difficult. I never would have been able to do it without Per Scholas. Not a chance.”

Today, Thomas’s life in the Phoenix data center is the polar opposite of his past. He works a balanced schedule that provides guaranteed overtime while also allowing ample time for his personal life. He has the best benefits of his career and his highest-ever salary, but the real gift is the peace of mind.

“It’s stress-free,” Thomas says. “That might sound weird when you’re working on millions of dollars’ worth of hardware, but it’s very methodical. I throw on my ear protection, turn on some music, and I just do the job.”

Reflecting on his journey, Thomas describes his experience with Per Scholas and TEKsystems in one word: Phenomenal. His advice for the next generation of learners is to treat the program—and the following contract roles—as the ultimate audition.

“Be prepared to work. It doesn’t come easy, and it doesn’t come fast, but it comes if you put yourself into it. Going in as a rising talent allows you to be seen. It allows your work to be shown so you’re not just some random person they’re interviewing—you’re someone they already know and trust.”

With his sights now set on becoming a Senior Data Center Technician or joining the Rapid Response Team to travel to international sites, Thomas Rowswell is no longer just helping a company grow—he’s finally growing his own future.