A Zero-Interest Loan Helped Mike Train for a Career in IT

Workforce & Education Investments, Workforce & Economic Mobility

After six years in the U.S. Navy as an Avionics Electronics Technician, Mike left the military with deep technical experience and a passion for problem-solving.

“That’s where my love for technology really started,” he said. “I loved troubleshooting, figuring out why something wasn’t working, and then making it run like new again.”

Transitioning into a civilian tech role proved harder than he expected. He explored different careers, but always found himself pulled back to IT. “I’d end up being the ‘tech guy’ on every team. It hit me: tech wasn’t just something I did in the Navy. It’s who I am.”

Mike decided it was time to pursue a real career path in tech. He discovered Per Scholas while researching training programs. To make full-time training possible, Mike enrolled in their Zero Percent Loan program supported by the Google Career Certificates Fund, which helps learners cover essential expenses during training.

“That loan was huge for me,” Mike said. “It took away the stress. I didn’t have to choose between paying bills and pursuing my education.”

Mike passed his CompTIA A+ certification and soon began interviewing for IT roles. “In my first interview with Microsoft, they asked questions relevant to the content we learned. I knew the answers because we’d practiced those similar scenarios in class.”

Today, Mike is a Senior Data Center IT Support Technician at Microsoft, where he was promoted within his first year. He has completed multiple certifications and is now pursuing a Master’s in Cybersecurity.

“I’m proud again. I wake up excited to learn, to grow, to see how far I can go.”

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