HashiCorp created a design apprenticeship program to provide mentorship opportunities, increase efficiency, and offer a rare remote junior role. The program aims to promote diversity by hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds who may not have access to traditional internship or job opportunities. The apprenticeship is a full-time role with no end date, and the goal is to mentor the apprentice into a "Level 1" Product Designer within one year. The program includes regular check-ins, a documented career ladder, and specific milestones that lead toward the first level of the transparent career ladder.