Welcome, and thanks for popping by! You’ve landed in my “introduction era” as I launch the brand-new Scoops Up series—a summer dive into career development with a sprinkle of personal flavor.
I am Shannon, the senior director of career development within the O’Brien Center. I’ve been part of the Merrimack community since 2018. My team and I work on projects to support building career readiness for students, such as programs and workshops aligned with the NACE Competencies and partnerships with local employers to promote hiring opportunities. My goal is to best support our students, faculty and staff in understanding and accessing all of our resources to help them pursue their lifelong passions.
On a personal note, Merrimack has been my home away from home as I am originally from Illinois. I met so many incredible people who have made this a great place to build my life. I am a proud dog mom (meet Zia Sophia) and frequent traveler, but as you’ll get to know throughout this series, I am an even bigger fan of ice cream. Scoops Up is a great blend of two of my favorite things—career development and ice cream.
As we go throughout the summer, I’m prepared to give you advice with the help of some friends, and show off some ice cream and more photos of Zia Sophia.
To start us off, I give you Scoop #1 – How to make the most of your summer.
Whether you’re working, traveling or relaxing a bit this summer, here are a few ways to stay career-ready while still enjoying the season:
- Gain practical experience – if you have already secured yourself an internship, co-op or part-time job; consider this checked off after you register it on Handshake Experiences. Volunteering or helping with a family business are great ways to gain relevant skills and support your local community at the same time.
- Focus on building your skills – Merrimack students can utilize LinkedIn Learning (free for Merrimack students) and focus on upskilling for a couple of hours a week. Courses are available across industries and interests—from becoming an expert on Microsoft products to video editing to being more productive using AI tools. Other platforms offer free or low-cost learning opportunities depending on what you’re looking for.
- Grow your network – summer is a great time to focus on WHO you know and catch up with them. Take time to update your LinkedIn or join the Merrimack Professional Network to support you in finding the right people to chat with. Make sure you connect with faculty and staff, former supervisors or colleagues, friends and family members, and fellow students. You never know who might be able to help you with a connection next year or even ten years from now. (And yes, I’d love to connect with you too.)
If there’s one takeaway I hope sticks with you, it’s this: start today. Summer tends to fly by, but your professional growth doesn’t have to wait for fall. Even swapping five minutes of scrolling for a LinkedIn Learning video or TED Talk can make a difference.
And don’t forget—we’re here for you all summer long. Whether you want to brainstorm next steps, refresh your resume or just talk through your ideas, your career development team is just a message away.
*Written while thinking about my after-work treat of the day, Half Baked Ice Cream.
