Name: Kevin Johnson
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Domino Sugar Refinery
Major(s)/Minor(s): Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation Year: 2015
Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service- learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.
At Domino Sugar I am an intern in the Packaging Department. This is the department responsible for the actually packaging of the sugar after it has been refined. The refinery receives raw sugar from all over the world and then works to create many varieties of pure sugar (well 99.95% pure) that is then sold to consumers. The packaging department consists of over 20 lines that package sugar, with weights that range from the 2.8 gram packets people use for coffee and tea to 2,000 lb supersacks that are sold to large food companies. This summer I am working on many different projects. Some of the larger projects include an audit of the checkweighers on each line (checkweighers are machines that constantly check the weights of the bags or boxes of sugar as they run across the conveyors of the line) and implementing a system that sends this data to a screen that shows graphs and statistics in real time. Another project involves activating a melter tank that is out of operation and connecting it to a larger melter tank 2 floors down. I am also working on designing and implementing a system to reject bad bags of sugar before they reach the unitizers and palletizers provided that they happen to make it past the first set of quality checks. Finally, I am planning and carrying out a project to upgrade a motor in our soft sugar section that has the potential to save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. These are just some of the interesting projects I get to work on every day I come into work. In addition to all this work I get to learn about the world of manufacturing from my extremely knowledgeable coworkers and supervisors.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?
I have enjoyed the opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of manufacturing and how engineering is related to this field. I have interned at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center before, and this internship is very different in many ways so it has been a great way to broaden my engineering experience. Being able to work with experienced engineers and learn directly from them has been such a valuable experience. It really demonstrates how what you learn in class relates to real world problems and solutions. Everyone who works here has been extremely kind and helpful, which has made the learning experience even more valuable.
What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?
Like I said before, I have interned at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center before and this internship at Domino Sugar has been very different. The manufacturing process of a privately owned company is much different than working at a government run agency. The knowledge I have gained here has been from a different view of engineering, which has been great for expanding my view of engineering as a whole. I would not say I have learned a lot of things here I could not have gained from another opportunity. I would say it is helpful to gain multiple views of what an engineering degree can lead to in the workforce. And I have definitely gained an appreciation of that from this internship in comparison to my other one.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
I would say do not give up and apply to everything you qualify for. It is not easy to get an internship, especially in this turbulent job market with so many experienced students applying from all over the country. I would also suggest branching out of their comfort zone to gain an appreciation for all there is to learn and experience. It is important to experience a variety of experiences before entering the job market as a new graduate. This will allow you to really narrow down your future plans to what you definitely know you're passionate about.
How do you see your experience as meaningful? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.
This internship has been great for gaining real world experience. It is a great indicator of how to relate what you learn in class to real world problems and solutions. The projects I work on really challenge me to think outside of the box to devise creative and effective solutions. I am able to work on something new every day, and I also have the unique opportunity to work with a wide array of people. This allows me to network with many different individuals who have given me valuable information and connections for the future.
Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process / the Shriver Center:
I would like to wrap up by saying this internship has been a priceless experience that has really allowed me to branch out and learn more about different areas of engineering, especially manufacturing and industry. I would also like to thank the Shriver Center for helping me obtain this opportunity and my supervisor at Domino Sugar, Rush Yelverton (head of Packaging Department), for hiring me and teaching me more than I thought I could ever know about sugar and the manufacturing process.
]]>The following full-time positions have been posted within the past week to UMBCworks. Login to your account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!
9262092 - Administrative Assistant - Freestone Environmental
9258745 - Client Services Representative - RainKing Solutions
9262082 - Cyber Analyst Specialist - NJVC, LLC
9262134 - Developer and Technical Positions - CGI Federal
9262128 - Jr. Helpdesk Specialist - Chesapeake Human Resources Services, LLC
9262108 - Hardware Engineer I - SOTECH
The following part-time positions have been posted within the past week to UMBCworks. Login to your account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!
9262132 - PaRaBal, a mobile software analysis and designer is seeking Technical and Liberal Arts majors for this part-time position
MUST be a UMBC Residential Student
International and U.S. Citizens are welcome to apply!!
9262102 - Catering Director - Chick-Fil-A (Landsdowne/Halethorpe)
9262107 - Facilitator - Weekend Residential Rehabilitation - Way Station
9262064 - Receptionist - Bill's Music House (Catonsville)
9262052 - Concierge - Water's Edge Events Center
Story from:http://www.collegenews.com/res/career/cover_letter/cover_letters
Cover Letters Can Make or Break Your Job Search
The job hunt is similar to a three-course meal. Your resume cover letter is the appetizer—great on its own, but designed to make a potential employer's mouth water in anticipation of the main course. Your resume is the main dish—full of meaty, satiating information. And the dessert—the sweet part—is getting the job.
In this case, the appetizer might be the most important part of the meal. Paired with a solid resume, a strong resume cover letter can make you stand out in a pool of job applicants, whereas a weak resume cover letter can land you in an employer’s discard pile.
What is a Resume Cover Letter?
A resume cover letter is your opportunity to explain to the employer why you would be a good fit for the job opening. A resume cover letter is usually no more than three to four paragraphs long, and it fleshes out the skills and experiences displayed on your resume.
Structure of a Resume Cover Letter
Here is a basic outline for a good resume cover letter:
Your Name
Your Address
Employer’s Name
Employer’s Address
Date
Dear (Employer’s Name),
Paragraph One: The Intro
The first sentence is the most important in the whole resume cover letter because it is your hook. Write something that will make the potential employer want to read further, and try to connect the sentence to the position for which you are applying. For example, if you’re applying to a teaching position, say something about how you’re passionate about working with kids, as demonstrated by your three years of teaching experience and volunteer work. Then use the rest of the paragraph to summarize; your employer should be able to read your first paragraph and get all the important points you want to include in your cover letter.
Paragraph Two/Three: The Nitty Gritty
This is the place to expand on the skills and experiences listed in your resume. (Even if you worked in the lowest position on the totem pole, you still gained valuable experiences that you can apply to other jobs!) But be sure not to simply parrot what’s on your resume; tell the employer how the skills and experiences you’ve developed will make you successful in this position. For example, if your resume says you “interacted with customers and answered inquiries,” then your cover letter should say that your “daily interaction with customers has developed excellent customer service and communication skills.” Three skills that all employers look for in a potential employee: organizational skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
These paragraphs are also a good spot to explain any gaps in your resume or things you didn’t have room for. If you’ve been unemployed, you can point out how you've been productive in the meantime. If you didn’t have room for certain activities or experience that you feel are relevant to the job description, then use this space to address them.
Paragraph Four: Wrap it up with some action
By now you should be done with the substance of your letter and it should fill about three-quarters of the page. Paragraph four simply exists to thank the employer for his/her time and inform them that you will be in touch. Unless the job posting says not to contact the company, tell the potential employer that you will follow up with them in 1-2 weeks. Be sure to include your contact information in case they want to get in touch with you sooner.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
What Sets Your Cover Letter Apart?
Employers can get hundreds of resumes and cover letters for a single job posting, so what will make yours stand out? One way is to show that you’ve done your research on the company. Recruiters can see right away if your cover letter is cookie-cutter. You’ll have an advantage if you show that you’re aware of the company’s presence in current news and that your hopes and dreams align with their mission and goals.
Another advantage is if your cover letter is well-written and uses impeccable grammar. Employers judge your communication skills and professionalism by your cover letter, and no one wants to hire an employee who will send out sloppy communications to their clients. Even if someone is well-qualified for a position, his cover letter might go straight into the dustbin if his writing is garbage. So save yourself the hour or so that it took you to write the cover letter by taking 15 minutes to proof-read it.
When Do/Don’t I Send a Cover Letter?
According to an article on msn.com, a recent OfficeTeam survey reported that “86 percent of executives thought cover letters were a valuable resource in the hiring process.” Therefore, unless the job description specifically requests you not to send a cover letter, you should send one. However, there are a few industries that don’t require cover letters, like IT positions or part-time jobs. But it never hurts to include a cover letter; in fact, if the letter is good, your potential employer should be impressed with your effort.
How Do I Send a Cover Letter?
These days, applying to jobs has moved to almost 100% online, whether through online job forms or through e-mail. Many online job applications ask you to cut and paste your cover letter or to upload your cover letter as a .doc or .pdf file. Just make sure that the formatting of your cover letter is basic (think 12pt Times New Roman font in a Word document), so that things don’t go awry when your potential employer tries to open your file.
When applying to a job through e-mail, you have two choices as to how to present your cover letter. On the one hand, you can make the cover letter the body of your e-mail, and you can mention in Paragraph Four that you’ve attached your resume to the e-mail. On the other hand, you can write a quick blurb to the employer summarizing your cover letter (not more than 3-4 sentences), reiterate your contact information, and point out that you’ve included your cover letter and e-mail as an attachment. When saving your cover letter file for later uploading/attaching, make sure you give it an easily recognizable file name, like “Cover Letter for John Doe.” That way your potential employer will remember who that wonderful person was that they were going to call for an interview.
Bon Appetit
As with preparing any scrumptious appetizer, writing a good cover letter will require lots of hard work and time. But the more cover letters you write, the more concise, articulate, and efficient you will become. And, after a few days or weeks, all that hard work will pay off and you will finally be able to dig into the delicious feeling of landing a job. If you're looking for a good cover letter writing service, you can also go to Amazing Cover Letters and have your cover letter professionally written.
Name: Grace Calvin
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Care Clinic at UMMC
Major(s)/Minor(s): Psychology
Expected Graduation Year: 2014
Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service- learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.
In my internship, I helped to manage the waiting room, take phone calls, schedule clients, and make reminder calls. I also spent time with children in the waiting room while their parents were in sessions and went to weekly meetings in which we discussed the clinical notes of the clients so that the therapists could provide insight and recommendations to their colleagues.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?
I love hanging out with the kids - the Clinic works with abused children, so I think it's really important that these kids have somewhere safe and fun to go and I love being able to provide that for them. I also love the insight I gained into the world of clinical psychology during staff meetings.
What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?
I have been able to really get involved in the treatment process. I observed therapy sessions and participated in meetings I would not have been able to learn from elsewhere.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Just go for it! I had one meeting with the Shriver Center, and they immediately suggested the internship I have - I sent in my resume, did a couple interviews, and had a truly amazing summer as a result.
How do you see your experience as meaningful? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.
This experience has allowed me to explore my passion for psychology beyond academics and to make connections with interesting and passionate people. I have also been able to touch the lives of children whose experiences in life have been unfortunate at best - helping these children have fun and get better has been its own reward.
Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process / the Shriver Center:
Internships aren't scary or unavailable - they're amazing experiences that open your eyes to the world of work, and they're easy to find if you know where to look.
]]>Did you know Northrop Grumman has multiple internships and full-time jobs opened in various areas across different industries? Check out their new grad portal to explore the various options. When it comes to Northrop Grumman, you have many options. We offer a variety of challenging internship, co-op and new graduate positions in multiple disciplines throughout our business sectors and you will see that reflected in our job postings. We are actively recruiting students of all grade levels and new graduates for current and future business needs across our organization. Applying is easy! Simply create your profile and search for jobs to review our current openings. During your job search, use our unique discipline codes below in the keyword field. You can further filter your job search by selecting relevant criteria in the drop-down menus. To be considered for a student or new graduate opportunity at Northrop Grumman, you must apply directly to the position(s). Our recruiters look forward to working with you as you begin your journey towards a career at Northrop Grumman!
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