Jessica Long (she/her), who graduated from Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business earlier this May, now works as a Deception Engineer at Stryker in Mahwah, New Jersey. While at Fordham, she was president of the Middle Eastern Student Association and a Freshman Advising Mentor. She also remained an integral member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Beta Gamma Sigma, Boyle Society, Campus Ministry, Fordham Christian Fellowship, Phi Kappa Phi, and Rose Hill Society!
How did you find this opportunity? Is it related to your major?
I had applied to a Technical Analyst internship from LinkedIn the previous summer and spent that time networking with the cybersecurity team. A few months after I finished the internship I received a call from the senior director of cybersecurity about a new opening that they thought I would be a good fit for! I had an Information Systems major with a Cybersecurity minor, so this definitely relates!
What are/were you most nervous/excited about as you start(ed)?
I am most excited about the opportunity to learn in a fast-paced environment. Cybersecurity is changing every single day and there’s no better place to learn how to tackle these challenges than on the job at an international company.
What were your most valuable resources at Fordham?
My professors! Especially in Gabelli where many professors are adjuncts coming from a full day of work in the field, they have tons of great advice and connections and truly want to see their students succeed.
Did you do internships during your time as an undergrad?
Yes! I interned at AT&T after my sophomore year and Stryker the summer after my junior year. I also interned for DataDock Solutions during the school year in junior and senior year.
What advice would you give others for the job search and application process?
Never be afraid to put yourself out there. Apply to the jobs that interest you, reach out to people who are working there to have a conversation, and advocate for yourself! Don’t get discouraged by a few rejections, and make sure you (as we all know) network, network, network! You never know who you’re going to talk to that has an opening on their team or knows someone looking for an employee just like you. Once you land a role, take the time to learn about the other jobs outside of yours because something might pique your interest!
In general, what are your future career goals?
While I’m obviously not sure what the future holds for me, I would love to continue on the path of healthcare cybersecurity. Eventually, I hope to become an adjunct professor and teach a class or two a week outside of my day job!
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