Job Search

Employers take risks when hiring and therefore put processes in place to prevent them from making bad hiring decisions. In the job search, your goal is to let the employer know that you are the solution to their hiring problem.

The hardest job to get is your first job. Once you have a couple of years of experience, many doors will be open. Try not to get discouraged if you get turned down by a lot of employers when starting out.

Networking

  • Ask family, friends, and fellow students. A huge percentage of people get jobs through personal connections.
  • Join the NMU Cyber LinkedIn group to connect with the alumni network. Jobs are posted here occasionally.
  • Speak with NMU Career Services to find out about the help they give.
  • Show up at networking events and trade groups in your community.

Job Postings

Use these resources to find jobs.

  • Marquette/Michigan Jobs
    • Join the NMU Cyber Jobs email list.
    • MI Talent: It is free for companies in Michigan to post here, so many do.
    • NMU's Handshake: All on-campus jobs are posted here. Employers coming to career fairs also post here.
    • ManPower Marquette: They are a head-hunting agency. They get paid when they match an employer with an employee. You meet with them and discuss career goals. When they find a match, they ask if you want to apply.
  • United States Government Jobs
  • Popular Job Sites: These sites list thousands of jobs across the country and the world.

Common NMU on-campus jobs

  • Help Desk
    • Many people launch careers with help desk work.
    • Help desk experience shows that you can work with customers.
    • Every cybersecurity job is a customer service job.
  • Education Access Support
    • NMU supports a regional, high-speed cell network.
  • Telecom
    • They support networks for NMU's campus and regional school districts.
  • Institutional Effectiveness
    • They focus on data science and reporting.
  • Cyber Camp Counselor
    • You could teach content and help with camp logistics.

Career fairs

  • Shaking hands with a recruiter at a job fair is your first interview.
  • Do your homework before career fairs. Prepare good questions for recruiters. Recruiters will screen resumes based on positive interactions at career fairs.
  • Often, companies might be hiring for several positions not listed on career fair websites. Recruiters might tell you about upcoming positions they will be looking to fill.
  • Dress professionally.
  • Bring copies of your resume.

Drug Use

  • Cannabis use can disqualify you from many jobs. Cannabis may be legal in many states for medical or recreational use, but employers can deny employment for cannabis use. Organizations that receive U.S. federal government funds often have to comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act which requires employees to abstain from drug use.
  • If you must seek a U.S. government security clearance, you will be asked about drug use. Failure to disclose drug use results in the presumption that you intended to deceive and will call into question the other information submitted in your submitted materials.
  • Employers will often ask about the use of tobacco and alcohol.
  • Many employers will perform drug tests at the beginning of employment.

Social Media

Many employers will search the internet to evaluate your online presence.

  • Create a profile on LinkedIn. Employers will look up your profile.
  • Present yourself on social media sites (X, Instagram, etc.) in a way that will not turn off potential employers.