In Stan Milbrath's world of IT, time is of the essence. "When people
can't work, when equipment or systems are down, it's expensive,"
he says. "It costs the company money. That's why it's so important
to solve problems quickly or, better still, prevent them in the first
place."
Milbrath says his education at Capella University equipped him with
valuable skills in problem analysis and research. He draws on these
to quickly zero in on IT problems and to come up with permanent
resolutions instead of temporary fixes.
His Capella education is proving valuable in other ways, too. It
helped him earn a promotion with expanded responsibilities,
opening up his financial prospects and salary range.
While no one is immune to layoffs, Milbrath believes that his
Capella degree improves job security. He survived two rounds of
downsizing. But if he were ever to be let go, he is confident that his
education will help him qualify for better opportunities in the job
market. "It's like employment insurance," he says.
With a trend toward smaller IT departments, people are expected
to do more with less, says Milbrath. He serves as backup for
other team members and vice versa. Milbrath credits his Capella
education for giving him added flexibility and a clearer view of the
bigger picture. It helps him to better understand and value other
IT specialties, such as networks, operating systems, security, and
project management.
"The project management classes gave me important
fundamentals," he says. "I learned the proper way to write up
project management work. That's a cornerstone." He also honed
his critical thinking and writing skills, both of which he applies on
the job.
"I feel proud for achieving this goal," says Milbrath. "I had to work
hard for my degree. It's satisfying and it leaves me better prepared
for the challenges at work."