Oakton hosts apprenticeship program information session July 10

Learn how to attend college for free as part of Oakton Community College’s international logistics and freight forwarding and manufacturing technology apprenticeship programs at a free information session 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the college’s Skokie campus, 7701 N. Lincoln Ave., in Room P104.

“Oakton is ideally situated near the O’Hare international transportation hub and is well-positioned to deliver the training needed for successful logistics and freight forwarding specialists,” says Associate Vice President of Workforce Education/Dean of Business and Career Technologies Marc Battista. “Apprenticeships provide career training while allowing students to earn while they learn.”

Apprenticeships are arrangements between educators and employers that allows students to work in a field of interest while earning money and academic credit.

“Apprenticeships give students the ability to work for a company—typically a five-year period—while completing their associate degree entirely paid for by their employer. Students not only get a wonderful education, they also receive invaluable practical experience and a guaranteed job at the completion of their degree,” says Internship and Apprenticeship Coordinator Shannon McKenzie.

The logistics and freight forwarding apprenticeship, which will be available beginning in the fall 2019 semester, joins the existing advanced manufacturing technician and CNC machining professional apprenticeships offered at Oakton through the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT). Successful international logistics and freight forwarding specialists are qualified in the field of domestic and international freight transportation. They excel at planning, managing and controlling the transportation of goods and other logistical services.

According to Glassdoor.com, the national average salary for a logistics specialist/international freight forwarding is $45,513 in the United States. In the Chicago area, the salaries are even higher, averaging $47,642.

“We are elated to partner with the ICATT Apprenticeship Program and be able to offer our students the ability to earn while they learn,” Professor of Business Lisa Cherivtch adds. “Through the program, students will be able to apply the knowledge they acquire in the classroom to their jobs immediately.”

To attend the information session, please email apprenticeships@oakton.edu. For more information about Oakton apprenticeships, visit www.oakton.edu/apprenticeships.