Tony Cusato, an employee at IBM for more than four decades, discussed interview strategies for recent college graduates on Thursday, April 3 at Mount Saint Mary College.
Tony Cusato, Security Consultant with Enterprise Cyber Security/Strategy and Risk and Compliance with IBM, discussed interview tips and strategies with senior students at Mount Saint Mary College on Thursday, April 3.
With graduation coming up quickly in May, Mount students will soon be beginning their careers. Cusato’s talk, “The Post-Graduation Interview Playbook: Techniques and Tactics,” equipped the soon-to-be-graduating students with essential strategies to confidently navigate the interview process.
While the talk was primarily for Cybersecurity and IT students, much of the information Cusato shared can apply to anyone who is at the start of their career.
Job interviews, said Cusato, “really come down to two questions. Why you? And why do you want to work with us?”
From providing cybersecurity solutions within IBM’s CISO execution arm to acting as the technical backbone for events like the 1998 Winter and 2000 Summer Olympic games, Cusato has worked at IBM for more than 40 years. During that time, he has interviewed countless job applicants. The ones who impressed him the most often did the following:
- Research the company and the role. Always take the time to research both the company and the specific job you’re applying for. Check sources like LinkedIn, the company’s website, and news articles.
- Build a strong online presence. Don’t have a LinkedIn profile? Make one! At the same time, examine your personal social media profiles and remove any content that might be seen as unprofessional.
- Tailor your résumé and cover letter to the job you’re applying for. Highlight relevant skills, projects, and certifications.
The talk was hosted by the Mount’s Center for Cybersecurity. The center provides program guidance and oversight to the college’s Cybersecurity major and concentration; brings expert speakers to campus; provides cyber defense resources to the campus and the community; and more. The initiative is maintained by the college’s Division of Mathematics and Information Technology and is supported by an external advisory board of local and national industry professionals, as well as faculty from the Mount and other institutions.