I’m proud to announce the inception of PointClick Technologies’ Adult Immigrant Internship Program — an opportunity for those who came to America seeking a better life to start the career they’ve dreamed of. It is my hope that this program will not only provide a leg up for the Sene-Gambian community of North Carolina, but that it will also help bring new, fresh talent to the Cloud, hosting, and IT industry.
Providing New Opportunities
I grew up in the small African country The Gambia — I have lived and seen firsthand what true poverty looks like. One-third of the country’s population lives on less than $1.25 per day — below the international poverty line. I know that individuals and families who make their way to the US do so with only one goal — the very same goal you and I have — to build a better life for themselves and their children. Unfortunately, in The Gambia the majority of jobs are found in farming, fishing or tourism, so many adult immigrants find themselves trapped in low-paying jobs with little hope of career advancement. Not only does this stifle their chance to utilize their natural talents and abilities, but it reduces the likelihood of them being able to provide the best opportunities for their children.
Through hard work, ingenuity, and yes, a little bit of being in the right place at the right time, I have built PointClick into something I can be proud of. I am honored to be partnered with both innovative local startups and national corporations — and I want to pass that chance on to my fellow immigrants. Our Adult Immigrant Internship Program was created to provide some members of our community with the chance to work in a corporate environment — exposing them to new technologies, projects, and opportunities they would otherwise never see.
Our Adult Immigrant Internship Program
Our first internship term began this summer. Those who missed the deadline to apply will have additional chances as the program will run annually in the summer, fall, and winter in an effort to maximize opportunities for the immigrant community.
How Does It Work?
Applications for each term will be available online through our website at internship.pointclick.net and will be announced through local non-profits that serve the Sene-Gambian community. Once the application period ends, we will review all submissions and interview those applicants who have demonstrated the best potential to benefit from a tech industry internship. Applicants must be over 18 — our program is designed to help those who cannot access these opportunities through post-secondary education — and show an aptitude for IT, management, or business administration.
Each internship will run for three months, offering participants 15 to 20 hours per week of work and training in one or more of the following career paths:
- Administrative assistant
- Business administration
- Management
- IT helpdesk/Desktop support representative
- Website design
- Systems administration
- Network engineering
Upon completion of the program, candidates will receive a new laptop and a stipend of up to $1,000 to help prepare them for the next step in their career search. They’ll also receive references and assistance in locating new opportunities.
Research from Forbes shows the average salary in the US for Cloud computing professionals has reached $124,300, and employers struggle to find qualified applicants for positions requiring Cloud computing skills. In fact, Cloud knowledge is among the top three most in-demand IT skills today — the word “Cloud” appeared in 460,000 online job postings between February 15 and March 15 of this year. The opportunities for career growth are there — but only for those who have some measure of skill or experience to build on. Our program will help members of a disadvantaged population get on the right track.
At PointClick, we’re not just about Cloud — we’re about people. Our success comes from our insistence on viewing our client relationships as partnerships, not simply sales opportunities or revenue streams. With our Adult Immigrant Internship Program, we’re demonstrating that the same is true of our employees — they are not simply labor, but people with dreams and goals. PointClick is proud to invest in the goals of both our clients and our team. To learn more about our internship program, our managed hosting, or managed Azure services, get in touch with us today.
