Career Services Spotlight – Matthew Keegan, MPA ’20, NYC Dept. of Transportation

This summer I was very fortunate to be accepted as a College Aide for the Staten Island Ferry division of the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT). I worked in the fiscal unit, assisting with grants and other financial matters. Most of my work consisted of preparing year-end financial reports for other government agencies, such as the state DOT and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). I was also tasked with tracking the progress of various expense and grant funded projects that are happening at the ferry, such as the construction of three new ferryboats. I regularly liaised with staff across different agencies to assess project schedules and budget issues.

As someone who is interested in public finance and urban development, I felt this experience allowed me to see the process firsthand. At DOT, I was thrown right into the middle of the bureaucratic process and thankfully excelled, due to my ability to incorporate the many things I learned here at the Marxe School.

After going to Marxe Career Services, I was able to talk with Suzanne about my areas of interest and she directed me to multiple postings, including one at DOT. After an arduous search process throughout the spring, I interviewed at the ferry and shortly thereafter was asked and accepted a College Aide position.

For anyone seeking an internship, my advice to them is they need to have persistence and patience. The job search process, even for interns, can be daunting.  Finding an internship was no easy task for me and it took a great deal of effort secure a position that fit my career goals. Definitely speak to someone from Marxe Career Services to find out about opportunities. Also, I you do face rejection like I did when I was first applying, keep searching and don’t give up — eventually an employer will recognize your talent.