Included in this newsletter
are alumni profiles, links of interest, and words of wisdom from the staff at
Commerce Career Services. Please let us know if there is a topic you would like
us to cover! If you know of an alum who would be a perfect fit for the alumni
profiles, you can send me their information at gilley at virginia.edu.
1. Alumni Profile
1)
What were your expectations of the MS in MIT degree as you were going into the
program?
The program’s focus on
enabling managers to maximize business value from IT investments and to
position IT to support, influence, and drive business strategy was a perfect
match for my long term professional interests as well as the immediate needs of
my personal role and that of my team at the time. Another important
attribute of the program was that it offers the opportunity to leverage the
significant knowledge and experience of the outstanding faculty as well as that
of the other students. No two cohorts are the same and since real-world
job experience is a pre-requisite of the program, it offers the right mix of
theory and practical application in real business situations. The fact
that the program is only a year in duration made it easier to fit into both my
professional and personal life as well.
2)
Have you made a career change since you completed the degree? What elements of
the program were helpful in making this change?
I actually transitioned to my
current position at Meridium during Mod 2 of the program. Meridium was
aware of UVA’s, McIntire’s, and the MS MIT program’s strong reputations and was
very interested in the attributes of the program that I mentioned above and how
well it integrated with my 16 years of prior experience as a successful
manager, PMO director, project manager, and business analyst. The company
offered a career opportunity that was a perfect fit for my background and
interests and was willing to give me the flexibility and time I needed to
complete the program and also even helped defray some of the costs. These
factors along with the chance to apply what I learned in the program in a new
industry for a growing international company headquartered 8 miles from my
house made the transition an easy one for me.
3)
What advice/words of wisdom do you have for current or future MS in MIT
students who are considering either a job change or career change now that they
are working towards the MS MIT degree?
While changing jobs when
still completing the MS MIT program worked well in my situation, I think that
the faculty would agree that my outcome is atypical. I do not recommend
changing jobs or careers during the program unless you know exactly what you
are getting into. The program is challenging enough as it is and making a
major transition in the middle of it may prove too disruptive and stressful to
you, your employer, and your family and it may negatively impact your ability
to complete the program.
Do not change jobs or careers
without a plan. You should really take the time to re-evaluate your
current situation and determine where you want to be in your career within the
next 1, 5, and 10 years. If you are happy where you are and have plenty
of opportunity for career growth, you should not feel obligated to change.
Alternatively, an immediate increase in salary and professional clout may be
legitimate reasons to make a move and, often, changing roles and/or employers
soon after earning a graduate degree or successfully completing a major project
is the best way to leverage those successes to maximum benefit. However,
keep in mind that your ability to get personal fulfillment from your career and
your quality of life including time for family, friends, and personal pursuits
will likely be worth more to you in the long run. So, remember to
consider all the angles before making a change, not just the financial ones.
Take advantage of McIntire’s
career services and invest in the effort to develop your own personal brand
during or shortly after completing the program. Treat the process as one
of your required program deliverables and take it seriously. Remember
that while an MS MIT degree from McIntire may help open a lot of doors for you,
it is how you apply what you learn in the program to the business environment
in which you operate and the measurable value you bring to your clients and
employers that will make the difference in your career. Don’t simply
“rest on your laurels.” Always strive to add value quickly and
often. The MS MIT program equips you to do that but you will still need a
strong commitment to continued learning for long term success.
2. Articles of Note
3. Career Advice 2.0 –
Words of Wisdom
From Kelly Eddins, Associate
Director of Career Development, CCS
“Think about your brand. You’re
in charge of making yourself a competitive candidate. Ask yourself these two
questions: What makes you great? What does the job/employment/economic market
determine to be great? The location where your answers meet is the place you
should keep your focus. When you’re determining your brand, remember to focus
on quality instead of quantity. Always think ahead for what your knowledge,
skills, and ideas can do for you, not what they have done for
you.”
4. We’re Here to Help
Commerce Career Services will be
coming to both Charlottesville and NOVA sections to present on Rebranding this
semester. We’ll be discussing the importance of integrating new skills,
knowledge, and goals into your professional identity. Please be on the lookout
for more details about this exciting program. Please don’t hesitate to contact
Kelly Eddins (keddins@virginia.edu)
or Aaron Gilley (gilley@virginia.edu)
with any questions you might have. Have a great March!
Aaron
Gilley
Assistant
Director of Career Development
Commerce
Career Services
University
of Virginia
(434)
243-2144
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