Navigating Career Services at USM
Starting a new academic year at the University of Southern Maine brings immediate pressure to balance coursework with career planning. Andy Osheroff, Director of the Career & Employment Hub, suggests that students avoid the temptation to tackle everything at once. He argues that engagement often starts with a single, manageable step rather than a total immersion in every available resource.
The Career & Employment Hub, located on the second floor of the McGoldrick Center in Portland, serves as the central point for students looking to connect their education to potential jobs. Data collected by the office indicates that students who participate in even one activity through the Hub remain more involved on campus than their peers. This correlation suggests that early, small actions act as a bridge to later opportunities.
Available Resources and Programs
The university provides several channels for students to begin their career preparation. The Job & Internship Board, which users can access through the green cube on the MyCampus Portal, lists hundreds of paid roles, including positions located on campus. For students seeking more direct guidance, the Hub offers Peer Career Advising. These sessions cover resume reviews and cover letter construction, helping students prepare basic materials early in the semester.
Professional staff are also available for one-on-one appointments. These meetings help students clarify career goals and develop specific plans for their time in school. Beyond standard advising, the university hosts a major Job & Internship Fair on Thursday, October 8. This event takes place in the Sullivan Gym and connects students with roughly 100 employers looking for talent.
Gaining Practical Experience
Academic programs often include theoretical learning, but the Hub emphasizes experiential learning to fill the gap. Two primary programs stand out for students seeking hands-on exposure: the Job Shadow Program and the Career Exploration Internship Program. Both initiatives allow students to observe or work within specific industries while completing their degrees. Applications for these programs open during the fall semester.
Students also have access to professional headshot services at the office in the McGoldrick Center. This resource assists with building a professional digital presence, which remains a standard requirement in most modern job searches. The team maintains an active presence on Instagram at @usmcareerhub, where they share updates, event reminders, and student highlights to keep the community informed throughout the academic year.