Mason Korea Alumna Launches Career in Digital Forensics in the US

An International Student's Journey to Success

imageMichaela Seulki Kim first arrived at Mason Korea with zero English education background, then founded the school newspaper The Voice, and eventually landed her first full-time job as a Digital Forensic Analyst in Washington, DC.

Kim (BS in Information Technology, ’20) started out as a business major and switched majors to Information Technology during her time at Mason’s Fairfax campus, where she was also accepted into the Accelerated Master's program in Digital Forensics and Cyber Analysis.

As an international student seeking employment in the US, Kim’s job search process wasn’t an easy one—especially during a pandemic. “I applied for numerous jobs and went through many interviews,” she recalls. “I had to go through five technical interviews for this position. Everything was done online because of the pandemic. The interviews were highly technical and I had to know the topics thoroughly.”

At the end, Kim was offered multiple jobs and accepted an offer from Charles River Associates, which she believes was the best fit for her.

Kim is grateful for the support she received from both Mason’s US and Korea campuses, particularly noting the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) and Career Services in Fairfax, and the internship opportunities in Korea. “The faculty and staff at Mason Korea are very supportive,” she said, adding, “Dr. Eunmee Lee has always encouraged and counseled me. I also learned a lot from June Jung and Leslie Song when I interned at the admissions office. I also worked with IT Director Eric Lee who introduced me to the IT field. And there are so many others who had a positive influence on me.”

Kim hopes other students enjoy their time at Mason as much she did. “Join The Voice! It’s the best,” she advises, adding, “Apply for internships using Handshake (Mason’s job portal) and talk to your academic, OIPS, and career advisors often. Also, take advantage of the great location of the Fairfax campus when you’re there!”