GORHAM, Maine  –  Returning for its second season after an all-star rookie campaign, Huskies' Athletics in partnership with the University of Southern Maine's Career & Employment Hub is excited to announce the 2021 schedule of Husky Pack Chats!  

What are Husky Pack Chats? Quite simply they're informational sessions tailored specifically to student-athletes to help prepare them as they take their first steps in career readiness. Sessions range from an "Intro to Career Hub," resume writing, interview tips and preparation, networking, and personal branding.  The first of the 2021-22 series is schedule for September 28 (via Zoom) and September 29 (in person at Bailey Hall) and will serve as a vital introductory to the services offered by the Career & Employment Hub. 

"The Career & Employment Hub was super helpful throughout my time as a student and student-athlete at Southern Maine," said recent graduate and former Huskies' ice hockey player Mark Tomaschek '20.  Currently a Business Analyst for Maine Health – Accountable Care Organization, Tomaschek earned his degree in Economics and Business Analysis.  "The Career Hub coached me through the process of getting an internship with Unum, and assisted in fine-tuning and updating my resume and cover letter.  The work and preparation I put in with the Career Hub gave me a solid foundation to work off of during my job search after graduation.  It's a valuable on-campus resource for all students."

Whether a first-year student-athlete, seeking an internship or part-time employment, or a graduating senior preparing for your career post-college, the USM Career & Employment Hub prepares students for all facets of career exploration and for the job search.  Husky Pack Chats are an opportunity to examine all of these areas and to learn how to market the unique student-athlete experience and its highly sought-after skills, including time management, decision-making, self-discipline, motivation, adaptability, team leading and building, and coachability, to potential employers.

"We're excited to continue our partnership with the Career Hub and to continue our Husky Pack Chats," said Samantha Norris, Huskies' women's basketball coach and Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Advisor. "The work we are doing with the Career Hub helps fulfil an important need of our student-athlete population and fits in well with the Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to the Community."

One of the University's Event of the Year nominees, Husky Pack Chats also brought back student-athlete alumni from a variety of educational and career backgrounds.  These alumni panels were some of the most well-attended and well-received sessions during the 2020-2021 academic year. During these sessions former Husky standouts shared their insight on how their time in athletics shaped their careers, and allowed current USM student-athletes to learn from some of USM's tremendously successful alumni, with a shared collegiate experience, and see those lessons in action.

"Our student-athlete alumni really shed light on the impact and correlation between the student-athlete experience and career success," said Norris.  "We're excited to bring this element back to the upcoming Husky Pack Chat series that illustrates our long-term department goal of developing members of our student-athlete community into young professionals from the moment they step on campus, through graduation, and beyond."

The first alumni panel is schedule as part of USM's Homecoming and Family Weekend and will be hosted online Thursday, October 14. Returning alumni include Kim Howrigan (Accounting) '19; Shaun McKinnon (History) '19; and Kayleigh Bohan (Criminology) '20.  Howrigan is a former member and captain of the Huskies' women's basketball team, while McKinnon was a four-year member and team captain of the Huskies' golf team. Bohan, a former Huskies' softball team member, earned first team All-LEC honors in her final season. 

 The initial Husky Pack Chat entitled "Intro to the Career Hub, Crafting Your Resume, & Critical Elements of Cover Letters" is schedule for an in-person session on Wednesday, September 29 at 10 Bailey Hall.  A virtual option is also being coordinated and will be announced online via social media. Additional career-focused Pack Chats will continue through the first semester with additional interactive informational sessions slated for October, and January.
 

 Pack Chat with the Career Hub
Session #1: Intro to the Career Hub, Crafting Your Resume, Critical Elements of Cover Letters
Wednesday, September 29, 10 Bailey Hall | 4:00-5:00 pm
 
During this session, student-athletes will:

• Learn how USM's Career & Employment Hub can support you in every step of your career journey
• Gain knowledge in the art and science of crafting a successful resume to secure an interview
• Discuss critical elements of cover letters to help you stand out from the pack

 
USM's Career & Employment Hub is a resource to multiple audiences, serving University of Southern Maine students, business and community partners, and faculty and staff.  Assisting students in connecting to their future through career exploration, self-assessments, interviewing skills, internship searches and more, the Career & Employment Hub also connects community partners to USM's greatest resource – its students and faculty – to help develop workforce connections, fill service-learning experiences, internship and volunteering opportunities as well as traditional employment.

"The team in the Career & Employment Hub is truly committed to helping students with their career-readiness. One of the most rewarding aspects of our jobs is to help students tell their stories and share the value they bring to an organization," noted Michelle Drucker, USM Career Advisor and Instructor. "Student-athletes, in particular, have numerous transferable skills to offer, and we are here to assist in identifying and articulating them."  
Interested parties can learn more about all of the activities, workshops and one-on-one guidance opportunities at https://usm.maine.edu/career-and-employment-hub
 
 
2021-2022 Husky Pack Chats with Career & Employment Hub

Session	Date & Time	Location
Pack Chat No. 1: Intro to the Career Hub, Resume, Cover Letter	Tuesday, September 28 5:00 – 6:00 pm	Zoom
Pack Chat No. 1: Intro to the Career Hub, Resume, Cover Letter	Wednesday, September 29 4:00 – 5:00 pm	10 Bailey Hall Gorham Campus
Pack Chat No. 2: Networking & Branding	Tuesday, October 26 5:00 – 6:00 pm	Zoom
Pack Chat No. 2: Networking & Branding	Wednesday, October 27 4:00 – 5:00 pm	10 Bailey Hall Gorham Campus
Homecoming Alumni Panel Featuring Former Husky Student-Athletes	Thursday, October 14 4:30-5:30 pm	Zoom