STEM Careers Beyond the Job Description, How to Own Your Path and When to Build Your Own Box, with STEM founder Catherine O’Mahony

You are a STEM professional and you tick every box on paper, so why do you still feel boxed in, underused, or quietly restless at work?

🔍 What You’ll Learn: If you are a STEM professional who has done everything right but feels stuck in a narrow lane, this episode is for you. We unpack the dynamics shaping recruitment and job seeking and how you can find breadth beyond the job description and when to build your own box with insights from Catherine's own founder journey.

You will learn: What actually makes a STEM candidate stand out beyond the job description, and why EQ, delivery, and motivation matter more than endless upskilling Why most companies hire you to stay in your lane, and how to deliberately create breadth without burning trust or credibility How to take ownership of your career, whether that is shaping a role internally, choosing the right company size, or stepping into entrepreneurship

Hit play if you want practical, grounded advice on how to design a STEM career that fits your life, not just your CV. This episode was recorded in July 2025 but Catherine's word are as relevant today as they were a few months back.

🧠 About the Guest: Catherine O’Mahony is the CEO and founder of OnQ Recruitment, which she started 25 years ago. With a background in science and decades of experience placing talent across the life sciences, Catherine brings a rare dual perspective, how careers are built inside organisations, and how creating your own business can be a deliberate career move rather than a leap into chaos.

📌 Episode Highlights: 00:00 Why high-performing STEM professionals still feel underused 03:45 How STEM recruitment has changed since 1999, from fax machines to LinkedIn 07:00 What makes a stellar candidate beyond technical skills 10:41 Learning fast vs delivering value, where many STEM professionals trip up 15:00 Employer value proposition, power shifts after COVID, and what changed back 22:00 Salary transparency, equity, and what the data really shows in life sciences 27:40 Why women are still underrepresented at the top, and the role of advocates 32:10 Beyond the job description, breadth vs depth and choosing the right company size 38:00 Why career ownership is not your manager’s job 45:00 Catherine’s founder story, the real first step to starting a business 52:00 Rapid-fire truths on transferable skills, perfectionism, and taking action

🔗 Resources Mentioned: OnQ Recruitment Salary Survey – https://www.onqrecruitment.com.au Company Directors Course (AICD) – https://aicd.com.au

🤔 Reflection Time: Where in your current role are you delivering value, and where are you quietly bored but staying silent? Do you want more depth, more breadth, or more control, and which environment actually supports that? What is one conversation or small action you could take this month to stop waiting and start shaping your path?

Want to craft a career story that opens doors? I help STEMM professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose and show up as thought leaders —so the right opportunities find you. 📬 Let’s connect: angeliquegreco.com.au | LinkedIn

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