Mentoring the Next IT Workforce Generation

Want to know what the next generation wants in a tech career? The best info can be gleaned face to face.

To that end, CompTIA board members, CompTIA Educational Foundation board members and CompTIA staff met with 15 students from the Chicago  Academy for Advanced Technology over lunch. IT leaders got to know the students on a direct basis as they gave them advice on how to land a career in IT and as the students told them what they hope for the  future.

The students discussed their ideas with executives from InFocus, iSys, Network Dynamics, NIIT, Pearson VUE and Xerox.  At the school, the students are motivated to improve themselves. They have a true  entreprenuerial spirit and innovative thinking.

CompTIA presented the school with a $150,000 grant and is challenging members to not only give money and supplies to the school but also to work with the students as mentors.  Companies that want to participate in the program should contact CompTIA's Gretchen Koch.