From Unemployed to Empowered: Josh Sackrowitz’s Path to a Future-Proof Career
“At this point, 43 years old, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. All I’ve ever done is work and work and work and when, all of the sudden, COVID-19 happened, the job I had for eleven years went away.”
Josh Sackrowitz, University of Miami Cybersecurity Professional Bootcamp Learner
Motivated to leave his time-consuming labor role to enter a field of work that would allow him to spend more time with his family, Josh Sackrowitz was thinking of his two daughters at home when he considered enrolling in a computer forensics program years ago. Unfortunately, his work schedule didn’t align with that program’s offering and he had to abandon his desire to do more to protect and provide for his family.
Dealing with the loss of his job alongside thousands of Americans that were laid off during the global pandemic, Josh was scrolling through Instagram when he came across the University of Miami Cybersecurity Bootcamp. Having always found technology interesting, it didn’t take long for Josh to decide to enroll in the online introductory course. He wanted to find out if a career in cybersecurity could provide him with fulfilling work while also allowing for more time for his family and newly secured job.
A Personal Transformation
In the days leading up to the first week of class, Josh recalled the personal transformation he committed to over the summer. His newly solidified sense of peace allowed him to focus on his family, education, and work equally without being weighed down by stress. When classes began, Josh found himself learning at full speed alongside a group of motivated students looking to change their lives, just like him.
After missing a really important lesson one month into the bootcamp, Josh felt like he was suddenly incredibly behind on material. That next class, his teachers, as well as his classmates, insisted on catching him up so that he 100% understood the information he’d missed.
“You build a family”. Josh said, further describing the classroom environment. “Nobody is allowed to fail because we keep supporting each other in any way we can.”
Determination and Dedication
Despite feeling as though he knew next to nothing about computers, Josh enrolled and was surprised by how much he actually understood and began to pick up technical skills quickly. But, above all else, Josh learned that if he really wants to do something, he’s going to do it.
His commitment to the University of Miami Cybersecurity Professional Bootcamp has everything to do with making sure he’s able to provide for his family in the future. When Josh comes home to his two girls after a long, hard day at work, often having only five minutes with them before jumping on the computer for class, he knows it will all be worth it. Because in less than a year’s time, Josh will be working in the growing field of cybersecurity. Since rising to the challenge of learning a new discipline several months ago, Josh continues to work hard and will soon collaborate with his career coach to land a job that offer him the work-life balance he’s always wanted.
To learn more about Josh Sackrowitz and his journey into the field of cybersecurity, connect with him on LinkedIn.
Check out reviews from other Cybersecurity Professional Bootcamp learners.
