Internships, study abroad, independent research, case competitions, volunteering, and participating in clubs and activities in college are among the many ways students can stand out from the competition when it comes time to apply for employment opportunities, according to Maureen Mulhern, the Director of Career Development at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
“The key is to stand out from the pack,” she says. “Students should distinguish themselves among their peers by adding some flavor to their repertoire. This provides them with experiences and skills to add to a résumé and great talking points for an interview. Being well rounded and participating in internship experiences has been important for a long time, but now it seems as though it is a requirement for entry into certain companies.” What’s more, she adds that organizations are recruiting earlier and earlier for the more competitive internship and entry-level roles.
This sage advice comes from a career development professional with nearly three decades of experience in the field. Maureen has worked with students at STAC since 2013 and has also held career development positions at SUNY Purchase, Dominican College, and Fordham University. She holds a master’s in education from Fordham and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from St. Bonaventure University.
Recently, Maureen and colleagues built the curricula for two new courses aimed at preparing students for success early on in their academic journey. “In STAC 102, Introduction to Career Exploration and Life Planning, we help students to declare a major that aligns with their interests, values, and personalities,” she explains. “We also help students to begin to think about career planning and career exploration. In STAC 201, Life and Career Planning Preparation, we help students begin to build the tools and tap into the resources that will help them to be successful in their careers.” These courses are the first of their kind at STAC, offered in response to the increasing need to prepare early for a competitive job market.
Maureen teaches both classes along with three to four other colleagues. She notes that college students today have a greater awareness of the importance of the internship experience than their predecessors, and are well versed in technology. They are also more focused on mental health and wellness and work-life balance, “something earlier generations didn’t often prioritize when it came to a career,” she says.
“I enjoy building relationships with students and supporting their efforts,” Maureen says about her own career choice. “It is so rewarding to hear about career successes and even just updates on the lives of the students and alumni.”
Several alumni remain in touch with Maureen, including Matthew Dybus ’15, Vice President of Ocean Marine at Loadsure, an Insuretech firm, who volunteered in the Career Office when Maureen first joined STAC in 2013.
“It truly amazed me to see someone who was familiarizing herself with the college, the role, and the student body be so calm, collected, and optimistic,” he says. “Maureen set an inspirational foundation, which all Spartans should replicate in their careers, through her ‘half-glass-full’ mentality, poise, work ethic, and dedication. I can still hear her say that 70-80% of all jobs come from networking. My career is a prime example of that advice.”
In her free time, Maureen enjoys skiing, playing pickleball, horseback riding, and traveling. She visited Italy for the first time last summer, and likes spending time in Florida and on the Jersey Shore with her family.
Written by Claire Curry