Zobaria Ashraf

Within a few months, I changed from a person with the least-desired skills to one of the most sought-after employees. I have become someone my kids can look up to.
Zobaria at podium

Team Lead

TEKsystems

Location

Baltimore, MD

Network Support

  • Network Support

Technology is the Future

After many years as a stay-at-home mom, Zobaria Ashraf was ready to enter the job market. Although she saw much potential for career progress in the IT sector, the mother of four lacked the necessary IT experience to jumpstart a tech career. “I was scared that I would not succeed. Being away from learning and being a full-time mother, I was scared that I would not cross the finish line.” Zobaria knew that technology was the future, but needed the training and the experience to help her become a stand out technologist. 

She discovered Per Scholas Baltimore through a friend and enrolled as a Network Support student. For Zobaria, the community of support fostered by Per Scholas instructors and TEKsystems employees helped her step beyond her limits and outside of her comfort zone. “From the day I entered the classroom to the job interview, to the job placement, [all throughout the process] I was nourished, coached, and encouraged.”

Professional Development for Community Building

The four months of training pushed Zobaria like she’s never been before. Because of the workplace readiness for which the Per Scholas curriculum prepares a student, Zobaria wasn’t just learning technical skills to do another job. She developed the personal and professional branding, and the confidence needed to pursue the career she wanted. “I was struggling to find a job as an at-home mother. Because of this partnership, within a few months, I went from being a person with the least desired skills to one of the most sought-after employees.” Zobaria went on to start her IT path as a desktop analyst with Morgan Lewis. Within a year she was promoted to a team lead. 

“IT is the future, and this partnership has brought opportunities not only to my city, but other cities like Boston, New York, Detroit, and Philadelphia. I am who I am today as a confident, employed, certified IT professional because of this partnership. I cannot thank TEKsystems and Per Scholas enough for giving me this opportunity. This opportunity has changed me, changed my future, and changed the trajectory of my family’s future. I’m sure in time it will change my city—one class at a time.”

Rory Jackson, Per Scholas Graduate

Read the next graduate story

I found it so helpful to have learners helping each other and to be able to chat with our instructor in an approachable manner. The training was so positive.

Meet Rory Jackson

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