So, you’ve decided it’s time to gain some real-world experience by landing a great internship in 2021. However, Interviews are often the most important decision-making component for an employer, so making sure you’re prepared to do your best is part of your career development. 

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Knowledge is power, and in this case, your competitive edge when demonstrating your value to an employer. Knowing about their business, mission, industry, and products or services shows enthusiasm and helps to build your personal brand.

 PLAN THE DETAILS

 How can you best prep for your interview? Have your résumé & reference list handy. Also, plan out your professional outfit and get it pressed/cleaned. If in person, figure out a clear path to your destination or if virtual, double check that your software (Zoom, Webex, and etc.) and hardware (web camera, mic, and etc.) are operating and up to date. 

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

 The potential for interview success is exponentially increased by reviewing and practicing your responses. Interview questions vary depending on the type of interview, but there are some questions that everyone should be prepared to answer. Practice is key. But don’t sound like a robot!

TIP OF THE DAY:

“A super important step is to send a letter and/or email thanking the employer for their time!”

READ THIS:

• Master the Interview
• Interview Questions
• Types of Interview
• How to Dress
• Ace the Interview

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

• Big Interview
• a FREE interview training system that features a new and innovative way to help you prepare more effectively for a job interview. Training AND practice are combined to help improve your interview technique and build your confidence. You can access a video curriculum and question library to learn how to craft your answers and then videotape your responses to review yourself or share with others for feedback.
• Schedule a with the Career Center to ask questions or improve your skills
• Interview Preparation and/or Evaluating Offers (Brief) – 30 minutes with your Internships Coordinator
• Interview Preparation and/or Evaluating Offers (Full Session) ) – 60 minutes with your Career Specialist
• Caroline
• Diane
• Rachel
• Practice Interview with a Career Specialist (must schedule by phone or email) – 60 minutes with your Career Specialists
• careers@umbc.edu
• (410) 455-2216 from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

-          Caroline

-          Diane

-          Rachel

Remember, all scheduling is handled in UMBCworks! While all staff are happy to communicate to students directly, our appointment calendars are managed though UMBCworks and require scheduling to occur at least 24-hours in advance.

Get the scoop on exciting internship opportunities! Follow the Career Center on Twitter, where we’ll be highlighting amazing internships across a variety of industries all week!

Have you had trouble finding an internship in the past? Follow these steps to obtain your dream position!

Step 1: Tailor your resume to fit your industry AND the job. A one size fits all resume simply won’t make you stand out as a candidate. Make sure to pay attention to key words including skills and experience listed in the job description. Incorporate those into the way you describe your own skills and experience. Make it OBVIOUS that you’ve got what the employer is looking for!

Step 2: Network. Networking is noted as one of the most successful ways of finding a job or internship. Career fairs (and other events) are the way many companies seek to hire students just like you. Also make sure to take advantage of LinkedIn and your personal circle to learn more about breaking into the industry. Remember, who you know matters!

Step 3: Keep a detailed list of all jobs applied for. An organized search is extremely important! Create a document that includes job title, company name, date applied, closing date, and job contact for every position you apply to.

Step 4: Follow up on the application. Most candidates passively pursue a job search by waiting for the employer to reach out. YOU can be ACTIVE in your search by sending a polite (and succinct) note to reiterate your interest in the position. You can do this by emailing the company contact listed in the job description or simply searching for a recruiter on LinkedIn.

Step 5: Use a variety of job search tools. UMBCworks is the best place to start! We know that employers who post on UMBCworks are interested in UMBC students! From there you can broaden your search to LinkedIn and other job boards that are specific to your industry.

TIP OF THE DAY:"The secret to getting ahead is getting started."― Mark Twain

READ/WATCH THIS:

• Video: “Job and Internship Search in the Time of Covid-19”
• Resume Tips
• Networking
• Where To Find Internships and Jobs

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

Make an appointment with a Career Advisor. Career advisors are available to assist you one-on-one by helping you to map out an effective job search strategy. Schedule an Appointment

Get the scoop on exciting internship opportunities! Follow the Career Center on Twitter, where we’ll be highlighting amazing internships across a variety of industries all week!

Looking for internship or research opportunities? Want to learn more about a career field or industry? Learning how to network can yield great results, even in the virtual world!

What is networking?

Simply put, the process of making personal and professional connections and building those relationships over time in order to either (1) advance your career knowledge or (2) help you find opportunities related to areas of interest.

When and where should I network?

Networking can occur at any time anywhere -- family gatherings, doctor appointments, conversations with other students at social events, academic department gatherings, or even in the grocery check-out line. The best place to start is by connecting with people you already know. Your network already includes family, friends, neighbors, UMBC faculty and staff, and colleagues.

Can I network now? In a pandemic?? 

Yes!  You can reach out to anyone you know – virtually! 

Although we are in a virtual world, UMBC students also have many opportunities to interact with faculty, staff, alumni, and employers. The Career Center hosts a wide variety of virtual events throughout the academic year ranging from intimate, industry-specific employer panels to large career fairs. See our calendar of events.

How do I start?

The easiest way to begin is with a brief email explaining your motivation for reaching out.  Be sure to attach your resume. To structure the conversation, you can follow the Informational Interview guide – which will help you with questions to consider asking.

Join a student organization to build your network!

Here at UMBC there is wide variety of student organizations!  Whether it is cultural organization, a student group, a living learning community—those bonds begin now and continue long after you graduate. Explore the many affinity groups and clubs of interest.

TIP OF THE DAY:

“Networking can open many doors for students by providing opportunities to gain information, useful skills, and perhaps even your next position… but it can be challenging for those of us with more introverted personalities. The simplest way to start things off, either in person or via email is with a question. The question could be about what their job is, the talk or lecture they just gave, or other interesting item you’d like to know about.”  Cesar E. Perez-Gonzalez, Ph.D., Training Director, NIH, National Eye Institute

READ/WATCH THIS:

• Article: Tips for Successful Networking
• Video: Micro Session: Perfect Your Pitch (10 minutes)

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

Now that you know the many benefits of building a robust network, consider one of the following next steps:

• Join at least one UMBC student organization of your choice to start building connections with those who share similar interests.
• Identify someone in your network and craft an email, requesting an informational interview.
• Craft a 30-second commercial to use for your next informal encounter!

Get the scoop on exciting internship opportunities! Follow the Career Center on Twitter, where we’ll be highlighting amazing internships across a variety of industries all week!

So, you’ve decided it’s time to gain some real-world experience by landing a great internship in 2021. But is your resume ready for the spotlight? Your resume is your marketing tool that will  help you land that internship. Do you know on average how long a recruiter spends looking at a resume? 5-7 seconds!!!Therefore, it’s very important that you structure your resume so that it’s easy-to-read to capture the recruiter’s attention. Your resume should showcase your education, skills and experience to show the employer you are a strong candidate for the internship. All experiences count so be sure to include extracurricular activities and volunteer work to show you are a well-rounded candidate.  Once you have developed your resume, you will have a solid foundation, but as you apply, you should always tailor your resume for the specific internship.

TIP OF THE DAY:

Chris Lanthier, Information Systems

Summer 2020 Cyber Systems Intern, Northrop Grumman

“Never say no to experience. Even if you aren't sure what might come out of it or if you're even interested, always seek out ways to grow yourself and your resume so that when the right opportunity does come around, you'll be able to take advantage of it.”

READ/WATCH THIS:

·       Video: Micro Session: How to Write a Stand-out Resume (13 minutes)

·       Sample Resumes by Major

·       Career Guide (Resume Guidelines and Samples)

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

·       Draft your resume and schedule a resume review  appointment through UMBCworks (30 or 60 minute) or 15 minute Express Appointment

Get the scoop on exciting internship opportunities! Follow the Career Center on Twitter, where we’ll be highlighting amazing internships across a variety of industries all week!