Dolan Students and Professionals-in-Residence Build Successful Connections

Since its inception in 2019, The Dolan School’s Professionals-in-Residence (PIR) program has brought together business students and industry experts with demonstrated leadership and management skills. Professionals come to campus to mentor students, critique résumés, conduct mock interviews, and host roundtable discussions.

Naturally, that model had to undergo some changes during 2020’s year of living virtually. “I used to have weekly sit-downs with students,” said PIR Bill Schloth ’85, CPA, MBA, cofounder and CEO of USA Business Strong, an educational resource firm for small businesses. “Since we’ve been virtual, I’d say that I’m actually having more interaction with students since they contact me with questions and we can jump on a quick Zoom. Because they don’t have to wait for me to come to campus and we’re not limited to 40 minutes, I think we’re working more effectively.”

In the first few months of the pandemic, many companies stopped recruiting for internships, and promised positions were canceled. Students were understandably concerned that they would miss out on opportunities so critical for their résumés, PIR Mary Kelly ’02 recalled.

“During the pandemic, we wanted students to remember social distancing does not mean you need to distance yourself from reaching your career goals,” said Dolan Career Development Center Director Sarah Bollinger, MEd. “Our PIRs seamlessly transitioned their collaboration with students online to offer the same one-on-one advising experiences that were crucial during a time when we could not be in-person.”

As for mock interviews, Kelly and Schloth acknowledge that in-person is better. “I can read a student better in person, and can assess how comfortable he/she is in an interview,” said Schloth. Yet, both have found ways to make the virtual format work via Zoom, and have had no shortage of Dolan students looking to practice. Since virtual interviews are more challenging, Kelly tells students that mastering them will actually help in the long run, making in-person interviews seem easier.

Since shifting online, the PIRs have helped more students with mock interviews and résumé reviews than before. “Hopping on I-95 at 6 p.m. was always a challenge,” said Kelly. She remembered a call she got about a student who had an interview with The Bridgeport Islanders (formerly the Sound Tigers) hockey team the next day. Would she be available to coach him through a mock interview beforehand? She did and was thrilled when the student emailed her later and announced he got the job. “I think I was more excited than he was!” she said.

The importance of being comfortable in a digital world has surfaced this year, and Schloth noted that students interned with companies remotely and still delivered. “I believe through digital technology we can now connect students and small-to- midsize businesses for a real win-win,” he said. “This brings more career opportunities for both interns and graduates.”

“I’m just so incredibly impressed with the programs the Career Center holds, and equally impressed by the students. I was not nearly as focused and prepared when I was their age,” added Kelly. “I just love working with them.” l D