Joined by educators, lawmakers and advocates, Governor JB Pritzker announced that the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is launching a paid trainee program to build a pipeline of tech talent to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals and diversify the agency’s workforce. Trainees will receive a minimum yearly salary of $54,000 from DoIT while pursuing tracks in one of five high-need concentration areas: cybersecurity, networking, coding and database, end user computing and enterprise infrastructure. Additional tracks will be added as the program grows. Trainees will also receive formal mentoring from current DoIT employees and be offered a full-time job with DoIT after completing the program and meeting its benchmarks. Cohorts will begin with initial classes of 20 participants, with additional cohorts launching as needed. Lincoln Land Community College developed the curriculum for participants and will host a training site in Springfield. Applicants should apply online at DoIT.illinois.gov. There will be two recruitment events:

• Friday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City College’s Harold Washington campus in Chicago OR

• Tuesday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kreher Building at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.

Prospective applicants can email DoIT.Recruitment@illinois.gov with application questions. For additional information on the trainee program, applicant criteria, and upcoming hiring events, email DoIT.Recruitment@illinois.gov.