Kristina Boateng

With a background in the funeral industry, Kristina Boating had no knowledge or experience in IT before she came to Per Scholas. During the pandemic, she realized the importance of tech and the growth potential of a career in the field.

Kristina came across Per Scholas during an online search, and realized it was a perfect fit for what she was looking for: a way to break into the tech field. Per Scholas provided Kristina with a laptop, books, and all the resources she needed to complete the course. The course was tough, as it was an entirely new field for Kristina, but her hard work and perseverance, as well as the support from her instructors, helped her through. “My instructors were amazing,” she recalled. “I’ll never forget them. I think they played a big, big role in where I am right now. Anytime I needed support or help, they were there for me. They worked hard to get me where I am.”

The professional development portion of the course was also incredibly helpful to Kristina. She was taught how to build out her professional profile on LinkedIn, to create a compelling resume, to successfully conduct and market herself during an interview, and even how to negotiate her salary – all skills that came in handy in her post-graduation jobs search. “The professional part was, I believe, what helped me land the job,” Kristina reflected. “The technical part was what helped me build that confidence so that when I went into an interview I would be able to speak about it and gain the job. They both went hand in hand.”

Kristina graduated with her CompTIA A+ certification, and quickly landed a job at a Fortune 500 company. After working there for a year and a half, she took some time off to earn her Security+ certification. She began working at another Fortune 500 company, and then landed an even bigger job as an Identity and Access Management Security Analyst at Flagstar Bank, where she works to this day. The job is remote, which allows her to spend time with her child, and it provides her with a financial security she had never previously imagined.

“I went from Help Desk to Cybersecurity in just under 3 years,” Kristina said. “I haven’t even been in the industry for 3 years. I am making a salary I never, never thought I would make in my life…It’s not even about the money. It’s about financial freedom. I don’t want to just be living paycheck to paycheck…I think everyone desires that comfortability and that freedom. Being able to save for the future; not having to worry about where your next meal is coming from or how you’re going to pay that bill.”

Kristina is currently studying for her CISSP certification, and is looking to keep growing her flourishing IT career. “[Per Scholas] has definitely been a heaven-send to me and my family. It has brought me so far to where I am today. I definitely recommend Per Scholas to everybody. If you’re ready to take that leap and do what’s best for you, your family, your finances, register for Per Scholas, and see where you go from there. Work hard, and you’ll get whatever good is coming to you.”

Hear more of Kristina’s story here.