In cybersecurity, or IT, or any job today, it can be tough to find a place to work that makes you feel like you are where you belong. So many companies try to create a great work environment and support their employees both at work and at home. Still, many IT companies are so large and cumbersome that it is impossible to reach everyone in the various tiers, especially those at the very top of the company. Very seldom do you find a company or organization where the owners, CEO, COO, or other C-Suite executives actually get a chance to meet and get to know the folks that do the work in the field or create the products they sell.

This piece is about my experience here at Northstarr System Solutions, and I hope that others can see the value in working for the types of people who own and operate businesses like this one.

Let me start by giving you a bit of background on myself and how I came to be with the company.

I am a disabled Veteran with multiple disabilities, including PTSD and memory problems. I am a regular at the VA hospital and clinics and work each day to care for myself, my family, and those I care about. It can be highly stressful and challenging just to sit down at my computer and begin the work I do or complete something that I am tasked with because my mind doesn’t work like many other people’s. It flutters from thought to thought, losing the thread of any particular item I want to take care of in moments. Sometimes, I think of something to say to someone, and when I turn to say it, it is gone. 

My first experience with Northstarr was when I had the chance to work directly with the owner, Michael Starr, at another company. I was in my last year of college in 2016 and working as an intern at a local company in their cybersecurity department. As an intern, one of my responsibilities was to explore potential breaches within the network and systems, try to find out whatever I could, and make recommendations on moving forward. It was something I had never done before and had no practical experience with, so I looked for hints on how to proceed. The other employees and supervisors just didn’t have time to help me out with more than a quick bit of information, and I became frustrated with my inability to proceed. 

Then I asked Michael. Now, understand, he was as busy or more so as the other employees, but he stopped what he was doing, asked me some questions about my task, and gave me some excellent ideas and thoughts on how to proceed.

I went back to work with the sense that I was in a better position to fulfill the learning task, which I think I did. 

Move forward to December of 2020. I had worked for two years at a company that contracts mainly with state and federal governmental agencies as a Senior Consultant. I had left my family at home in our home state the entire time so that I could explore this position and try to find one that was remote or closer to home. Neither hope was fulfilled, so I returned to my family in September of 2019, intending to explore various options there. 

In December, I was chatting with Michael on LinkedIn and talking about my failure to find any suitable positions in my area. Michael asked me what I was looking for and then offered me a position as a cybersecurity intern with his company. Yeah, I know, back to the intern business. Except, I would be working remotely 100% of the time, have Michael and others on the team available to teach me more and mentor me in my experience growth, and most of those in the company were military veterans or retirees as I am. I took the position post haste!

And here we are, today, with me having been with the company for over a year and being happy that I made the decisions I have.

This post might seem like it is just an “I’m happy to work here!” post, but it isn’t just about that. It is about finding that place that gives you a sense of belonging and acceptance. Michael brought me on because I had something that he needed, knowledge and a drive to learn, and a willingness to start at the beginning again. 

When you work for someone or take a new position, you want your situation to be improved—better pay and benefits, less time away from home, or whatever. You also want to know that what you do is impactful. As a Cybersecurity professional working with Northstarr, I get all of those things and more. I have the opportunity every day to help others through my work, help Michael grow his business, and be around genuinely good people. 

When Michael thinks about what he next wants me to work on, it isn’t just about the company and its needs; he also considers my needs and wants. For instance, I genuinely enjoy being given a task and some guidance, then going out and doing the research necessary to accomplish it. If I have questions, I can contact Michael (or anyone else in the company) and ask them, knowing I will get the answers and pointers I need to succeed.

What does this mean for you as a client or potential client?

When you look for someone to provide a service or a product to you, you likely want to find the least expensive and best-fitting provider. You want it to be well made/created, and you want it as quickly as possible. You probably also want to know that the company that sells it to you is an excellent company to deal with and will do their best to give you what you want and need without problems.

Northstarr, and Michael, do just that. They all matter– his attention to detail, work ethic, and treatment of those who work for or with him. How he deals with his employees directly affects how their work is done and how well it is done. 

You can be sure that what you are getting is the best we can provide because we are unwilling to trade quality for quantity. That is a direct result of how Michael treats us, how he shows his appreciation for us as people and as his employees both. 

Closing the loop

When I am looking for work, I want to find something in my chosen field, but almost more important is that feeling I get when I know that I have taken a position with a truly great company. Knowing that I am not going to be asked/told to do something wrong, immoral, or just inappropriate is a significant thing for me. As a client or potential client, or even just someone reading this post to fill the time, it has to be evident that if you need to hire someone to provide your cybersecurity or IT services, Northstarr is an excellent candidate to consider for your needs.

I also hope that if you are looking for work yourself or just exploring your options, you will find comfort in knowing that there are still good employers and companies out there. Take the time to find them.