Joshua T. Kitchen
Technology Recruiter, KForce, Inc.
B.S. in Business Administration

Why did you choose Franklin University?
Because I work about 80 hours a week! I specifically wanted to complete my bachelor’s degree online because of the flexibility. Franklin gave me that. Plus transferring my credits from Sinclair Community College was easy.

What kind of commitments did you have in addition to school?
I’m not one to sit still. I’ve got a beautiful wife and baby daughter, so I make sure to share plenty of time with them. I am in a men’s golf league with my dad on Thursdays and I set aside time for my passion as an avid outdoorsman.

How does what you learned relate to your profession?
As a technology recruiter for a billion-dollar staffing company, I specialize in providing mission-critical government staffing needs. My degree helped me “get” the value of planning and time management, as well as to see the big picture of the business environment. That’s important when communicating well with clients and prospects.

How did you feel about being an adult student?
With a young marriage and a young child, it took a lot of discipline to accomplish everything I needed to while finishing my degree. It wasn’t easy, but I went after my education very aggressively – in my profession it’s necessary for promotion. My goal is to be a top performer and become the Ohio Director of Recruiting within my company.

Any thoughts about the curriculum?
Overall, I would say that Franklin helped open my mind to different ways of thinking. For example, in my professional realm we deal with a variety of visa statuses, so my Global Studies course helped me understand the value of being prepared when working with prospects from different cultures. A big piece of my company’s mission is finding the right match for everyone. That means having mutual respect and taking into consideration different perspectives.

What was your overall experience with Franklin?
Great! The professors understood that the students were all working toward a common goal: to continue to advance professionally through education. I really liked Franklin Live! and class discussions over the phone. With a laptop and a headset, I could be learning even while on the road.

Any advice for future Franklin students?
Keep your communication open. Let your advisors and professors know ahead of time what challenges you may be going through. They want you to succeed, and they hold you accountable for your results.