For Aube, Going the Extra MILE Pays Off

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 52 seconds.

Like many college graduates ready to enter the job market in spring 2020, Noah Aube encountered an unexpected roadblock.

Aube, the 2016 Mitchell Scholar from Cony High School, was on the cusp of graduating from Amherst College with a bachelor’s in computer science. His transcript featured Dean’s List grades and credits from Aquincum Institute of Technology in Budapest earned during a junior semester abroad. His resume featured several IT-related summer jobs, including mobile-application development for the University of Maine at Augusta and website and database work at Amherst’s Center for International Student Engagement.

What’s more, he had attended two MILE (Mitchell Institute Leadership Experience) II events while in college. At the day-long events organized by Alumni Council members and hosted by Unum each March, Aube joined approximately 80 other Mitchell Scholars and Alumni to glean career and personal development advice from professionals spanning a range of industries, organizations, and vocations.

Armed with strong credentials and work experience, Aube was in discussions with a startup company about an IT position prior to March 2020.

“It looked like I was on track to get the job,” he recalled. “Then the pandemic hit, and no one was hiring.”

Aube had to put a pin in his job search, but he didn’t stop networking. When March arrived, he signed up for his third MILE II event and attended the tech-focused panel featuring several Alumni. Among them was Chris Rogeski, the 2002 Mitchell Scholar from Fort Fairfield High School.

“At the end of the presentation, the panelists encouraged all of us to connect with them on LinkedIn,” Aube said. “That’s what I did. I reached out to all four of them.”

Aube found that Rogeski, an application administrator at Tyler Technologies, was especially encouraging. And after several conversations, Aube became more interested in the possibilities at the Fortune 500 integrated software and technology services provider to the public sector.

“Chris talked about the collaborative work environment, and it seemed like (Tyler Technologies) was a place where my skills would be considered an asset,” Aube said.

Now in his second year as a software engineer at the firm’s Falmouth location, Aube is eager to assist current Scholars the way Rogeski helped him.

“When I got the job, I reached out to the Mitchell Institute to let them know and to thank everyone for supporting me over the years,” Aube said. “I recently received an email from someone I went to school with, and I was immediately excited to take on the role of mentor the way others had done for me. Being able to pay it forward is a good feeling. I hope I can do that for Mitchell Scholars.”

Asked what advice he has for current Scholars, Aube recommends “being your own biggest supporter” and making the most of every chance to make connections.

“Never say no to an opportunity to network or further your own abilities,” he said. “Meeting people was one of the keys to getting where I am now.”

And he recommends taking advantage of every program the Mitchell Institute offers.

“When I had the opportunity to study abroad, the Fellowship I received from the Mitchell Institute to help pay for my rent and living expenses in Budapest made the experience possible,” he said. “When I started going to events and meeting Alumni, I realized being a Scholar means much more than the Scholarship. I went to the same event three years in a row and learned something new each time. And the third time led to a great job.”