Helping MSIT Students Prepare to eXcell

Students in Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program met Nancy Outcalt for the first time on Oct. 22.

Some might wind up talking with her again.

Outcalt is a senior business development executive with eXcell, a division of information technology (IT) managed services provider Compucom. Her job is to help connect IT professionals with companies that have job openings that match the prospects’ skills and interests.

She spoke to students in the MSIT program about how to prepare to land a prime post-graduation job. Her top piece of advice?

“Research the company in advance. Know their products, recent acquisitions, future initiatives,” said Outcalt, who has been with eXcell for nearly seven years. “Then determine how you can uniquely contribute to those strategic initiatives.”

Outcalt emphasized the importance of having a good-looking, professional resume that illuminates not only candidates’ work accomplishments but also their hobbies and volunteer efforts. Many hiring managers use that information to help determine if a candidate is a good cultural fit for the company, she said. 

On the flip side, candidates should research the company to ensure it is the right cultural fit for them, Outcalt said.

“Know what you value first,” she said. “Target companies that align with your values and that need your skill set.”

That MSIT-developed skill set is aligned well with current needs in the IT industry.

MSIT is designed for seasoned IT professionals with a strong work history who are looking to evolve their careers to tackle more senior leadership roles. The program emphasizes a mix of technology and business management principles and features courses on everything from data science and data analysis to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

“The demand for roles that involve software engineering, cybersecurity, and managing data have increased dramatically,” she said. “This trend is expected to continue as more commerce moves to the web and mobile devices.”

Not only does the MSIT program give students a needed skill set, Outcalt said, but the job market soon-to-be MSIT graduates will be entering is favorable. Salaries are increasing, retention and sign-on bonuses are becoming the norm, and candidates have their choice of roles in many situations.

“Candidates are being more selective of company culture and work-life balance,” she said.” In addition to the compensation and standard benefits, they are asking how much PTO is offered. Can I bring my dog to work? Is there a remote-hybrid option? Is there paid mental health support? Do their sustainability policies align with my values?”

This shift to an empowered employee doesn’t mean candidates should be complacent, Outcalt said. Those higher salaries and increased benefits are forcing companies to make tough choices that don’t always favor higher-level employees.

“A company may have planned to hire three mid-level resources for a project,” she said. “But because of rates and competing demand for talent, they may have to settle for one mid- and one junior-level resource.”

Candidates finding the best opportunities in the job market are those who know the company they’re applying to inside and out, who customize their resumes to highlight the specific skills that best match the job posting, and who practice hard for a variety of interview types.

Successful candidates also leverage their networks well to help find out about the company’s interview practices and key stakeholders in advance. That type of networking is emphasized throughout the MSIT program, and it's why MSIT students might be talking with Outcalt again.

“Feel free to reach out to me if you see we have mutual LinkedIn connections,” she said. “I'm happy to make strategic introductions.”