Where Extraordinary Work Leads to Extraordinary Results

Steven Nunez ‘19 possesses a natural curiosity, particularly when it comes to technology. As a high school student in New York, N.Y. Nunez he taught himself to build a desktop computer.  The process was immersive, requiring incredible focus, patience and problem-solving abilities. He carried that innate interest in uncovering how things work, along with a fierce work ethic, with him to Le Moyne. Nunez earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems in a little over two years while holding down three jobs – at the Information Technology Service Desk, Physical Plant and Noreen Reale Falcone Library, as well as in systems administration and desktop support. He knew that if he was going to land an “extraordinary job, it was going to take extraordinary work” – hard work, smart work, work that was unique to him.  

Today Nunez is building the career he envisioned as an undergraduate as a technical operations engineer at Google. With an estimated 5.4 billion Google searches conducted every single day, that is no small feat. Nunez estimates that he spends about 70 percent of his time providing technical assistance to Googlers around the world. It could be as simple as changing a password or as complex as building infrastructure for the search engine giant. The remaining 30 percent if his time is dedicated to working on projects related to the organization’s larger objectives. His overarching aim, in everything he does, it to look for solutions or opportunities that are scalable, so that as many people as possible can benefit from them. 

A first-generation college student, Nunez moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 10. He credits his time at the College, and the hard and soft skills he gained there, with helping him to land a job at a company that receives an estimated 2 million applications per year. He became an expert listener, picking the brains of people like former Information Systems Program Director Martha Grabowski, Ph.D., about everything from interviewing techniques, to job prospects, to the latest developments in the field. As a result, Nunez, who has always been a natural problem solver, has become more resourceful and less intimidated when something unexpected arises. 

That mindset has proven to be extraordinarily useful at Google, where the first few months can often be daunting. He has made it a point to learn from others at the company, even those he does not work with directly. The Le Moyne alumnus, who recently taught section of Information Systems 601 at the College, advises others who are early in their careers to do the same. Regardless of your industry, he believes it’s important to always be a student, to ask others not just what decisions are being made, but why. He also reminds young people that, as they are meeting with prospective employers, it’s important for them to share their stories. Yes, organizations often look for specific skill sets when they are hiring. However, they also want to know that a candidate is someone who can do things that often don’t typically appear on a resume, like solve problems and empathize with others. 

His own career trajectory has led him to adopt this philosophy: