A success story.
Myself, I have a success story from Utica College. The department chair, Joe Giordano, played an important role in my career. I was brand new to the cyber field, and nervous, as many soon-to-be graduates are, about finding a job without experience.
From speaking with Joe at the residencies, he knew that I was passionate about my work and about putting everything I had into what I do. He referred me to one of the professors at the program who contacted me and offered me my current job. It was proper networking and a can-do attitude that got me that job.
My advice: Make every second count.
My advice to you all is to make every second of your time at Utica count when interacting with classmates and professors. You never know who might be listening or get a good vibe about you. A couple of things to consider before attending your first residency:
- Make/order business cards
- Make copies of your résumé
- Do some outside research about the faculty at Utica College, many of whom are adjunct professors who work full-time in the field and have great connections
- Most importantly, decide: How am I going to make an impression?
About the Author
Shaun Kelley is from Pearl River, New York. He enrolled in the Utica College Cybersecurity Master’s program in the Fall of 2013 after graduating from SUNY Cortland in May of 2013. He currently lives in the Metro Detroit Area in Michigan and works for KPMG's Forensic Technology practice. He was able to get a job in the field from the networking he did as a Utica College student. Since joining KPMG, he has been able to use the skills he developed in this program (both technical and social) to solve real-world problems in the workplace. In his spare time, he enjoys going to sporting events (Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse).