Seton Hall Alumnus Kickstarts Student Job Search Through the Career Center

Nick Malefyt, B.A. ’92, is putting his degree in psychology to good use in the recruiting industry. Malefyt is the founder and president of Master Search Solutions, an executive search and direct-hire recruiting firm specializing in the New Jersey market. As an engaged alumnus, he has maintained a strong relationship with the Seton Hall Career Center.

“Once I started attending job fairs as an employer, that’s really when I started to form connections within the Career Center,” explained Malefyt, who says he did not take advantage of career resources while he was a student. “Now I have a greater understanding that career centers help students find employment opportunities.”

In his work as a recruiter, Malefyt is always on the lookout for students whom he might be able to help launch a successful job search. Getting involved with Seton Hall’s Career Center was a “natural thing” for Malefyt, who is based nearby in Caldwell, New Jersey. Over the years, he has gotten to know the Center’s staff and participated in skill-building bootcamps and job fairs hosted on campus.

As a Pirate, Malefyt tends to answer requests that come from the Hall first. “I’ll receive notifications from other schools. It’s not really personal,” he said, noting his close connections to the Center's director Jorge Rivera, associate director Justin Krass, and Bria Pender, the Center’s event coordinator. “Because of my relationship with Seton Hall, I’m getting very personalized invitations to participate in the events.”

Malefyt says he also enjoys connecting with students at events on campus, which allows him to give back to the University. “[It] gives me the opportunity to help students. If it’s not getting them the job itself, then it’s arming them with the tools that help them get that next job that they’re looking for.”

At Career Center bootcamps, Malefyt finds success as a recruiter, sharing videos and offering students tips on accessing employers by establishing direct connections. He offers students ideas for making a positive first impression, researching a company, and writing a thank-you note and other post-interview follow-ups. Success comes, he says, “when you know you’re meeting someone and you’re helping them out. And then, at the end of the day, you also help them land their next full-time role.”

Malefyt encourages students to use the Career Center as a resource, attend events, and get to know the staff. “Build real connections with Jorge and the team, so that when an employer comes to them and says, ‘Can you recommend anybody?’ they think of you. If they don’t know you, how could they really invest in you?”.

The Career Center is located on the second floor of Bayley Hall. Students are encouraged to stop by or visit the center’s website to access job and internship opportunities, learn about upcoming career fairs and recruiting events, and get help with résumé and cover letter preparation and more.

Categories: Alumni