ITS Day

The annual gathering for the J.W. McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems included presentations from alumni and friends of the school, as well as a luncheon. Read on for session highlights.

 

Adam Luck:  

Adam Luck is a two-time graduate of the J. W. McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems, class of ‘08 and ‘15. He currently serves as an IT Director for IGS and is an adjunct professor in computer science at Franklin University.  

Luck spoke to the ITS community and gave advice from lessons learned along his journey.  

“The big thing I learned from my dad was servant leadership. Make sure you’re putting yourself through the same struggles in an organization to empathize with others,” said Luck about working in his father’s shoe store.  

Looking back, Luck said he did not push himself to get an internship while in college, which he thinks led to a struggle finding a job after graduation.  

“Finding a way to get practical experience outside of the classroom is very important,” he said.  

When considering a prospective employer, he suggested finding a company with financial stability, an organizational culture that makes you feel comfortable, and values that align with your own. 

“Focus on the business; the technology will always follow,” Luck said. “Focus on what you can do to help the organization. Your number one job is to help the company make more money.  Be financially minded because you are costing the organization money.”  

In his current leadership role, Luck manages 22 individuals and said he has learned to stay calm when problems arise, which helps fix the problems faster.  

He also shared some advice for those in leadership. 

“Don’t criticize your employees in public. Share in team success but own all the failures. Don’t ever let your boss be surprised by someone else, always tell the truth, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.” 

Luck reminded the ITS community not to judge people because they have a lack of technical knowledge. “That’s why they hired you,” he joked.  

Lastly, he encouraged ITS students to keep their heads down and work hard, ensuring them that someone would notice.  

“Stay curious, stay learning, or else you’re going to get left behind,” he said. 

Alumni panel: 

ITS alumni panelists: Haley Baker, ‘15, Associate Information Security Analyst, Ohio University; Courtney Black-Salyer, ‘13, Associate IT Analyst, Abercrombie & Fitch; Ryan Biehl, ‘97, Director for Higher Education Services, Hyland Software; Ken Maglosky, ‘16, Consultant, Sogeti; and Dylan Maloni, ‘16, Analyst/Operations Support, Expedient.  

The panel took turns sharing advice and stories from their careers with the moderation of current ITS student Brandon Smith. The panel also took questions from the crowd.  

How job-seekers can market themselves to employers:  

• Obtain certifications 

• Be creative and take the initiative – ask to learn about a company and shadow for a day

• Be clear that you want a position and that you’re willing to adapt 

• Most importantly, don’t be discouraged 

On the importance of communication: 

• People notice when you’re waiting to talk instead of really listening 

• Learn to communicate well with people from different cultures and backgrounds 

• The ability to provide an overview is important: learn to describe something “at 1,000 feet” 

• Remember that not everyone in I.T. is technical  

• “Metaphors are your friend” when explaining technical things to non-technical people 

How to handle the pressures of the job: 

• Remember to put your phone down 

• Celebrate the victories 

• Go outside 

• Be open with your supervisor 

• Learn to stay calm throughout the day  

• Remember that your employer wants to see you grow in a job as much as you want to help them 

Panelists’ favorite aspects of their jobs:  

• Always learning  

• Working with other Bobcats 

• Having hands-on exposure to cool technology  

• Getting the opportunity to help people.  

Least favorite aspects of their jobs:  

• The “dirty work” of data analysis 

• Documentation  

• Repetition 

The most important lessons they learned when they transitioned from college to the workplace: 

• Have patience 

• Take one thing at a time 

• Learn about your industry and its financial cycle 

• Things change really fast—be prepared to adapt 

• How you react to situations will impact how leadership perceives you