Name: Atharv Amit Abhyankar

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Summer 2023

Major: Engineering Management

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Maryland Technology Internship Program @UMBC Career Center

Location of the Organization (City, State): Catonsville, Maryland 

Title of position: MTIP Intern

I report directly to the Program Director for Workforce Development at UMBC's Career Center. My internship revolves around grasping the intricacies of managing the Maryland Technology Internship Program. I've been actively involved in recommending improvements to current workflows, employing data analytics to ensure accurate reporting between students and employers to the State of Maryland, and laying the groundwork for the Airtable Automation tool for future projects.

I found this position while exploring on-campus job opportunities on Handshake, discovering it in the final week of April. It immediately piqued my interest due to its alignment with my background and professional expertise, offering a valuable opportunity to refine my data analysis and process improvement skills. The job description provided a clear reference point for crafting my cover letter. I submitted my application on the same day I discovered the opening. Within a week, I received a response from the Program Director, leading to an interview and ultimately securing the position within another week.

Handshake

In my role as an MTIP intern, the most rewarding aspect has been gaining a comprehensive understanding of the entire process and witnessing the positive impact of the program on employers, students, UMBC, and the State of Maryland. The staff at UMBC Career Center, particularly my supervisor, have consistently provided unwavering support, guidance, and assistance throughout my internship and professional development. The exposure and values acquired have significantly contributed to my academic journey at UMBC and prepared me for future professional roles.

With the backing of my supervisor, I successfully formulated and presented to the UMBC Career Center team a functional framework outlining the migration of the entire MTIP workflow to Airtable. This proposed shift is expected to yield significant benefits, including time savings and the alleviation of laborious efforts associated with handling extensive data. In the current Fall term, I've made substantial progress in implementing this transition, leading to a more streamlined experience for everyone engaged in the MTIP process.

For those delving into on-campus, internship, or full-time opportunities, I strongly recommend maintaining an open, alert, and prepared mindset. Often, valuable resources like the Career Center's resume review, job postings on Handshake, and the MTIP website are overlooked. These channels, along with career fairs, can serve as unexpected gateways to potential opportunities.

My own experiences during the fall career fair at UMBC underscore the significance of staying receptive. As an international student seeking CPT/OPT accepting employers, the Career Center's career fair directory became an indispensable tool in creating a personalized list of prospective employers. This allowed me to systematically approach each employer on my list. Subsequently, I expanded my interactions to engage with other employers in my field, refining my elevator pitch and gaining insights into their organizations.

This proactive approach yielded tangible results as I secured two interview calls. One came from a prominent pharmaceutical company that actively welcomes international students, while the other, although typically not open to international candidates, made exceptions in my case.

Building upon the philosophy of 'Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water,' this mindset has been instrumental in fostering adaptability and a flexible approach to challenges. In the ever-evolving landscape of my internship, much like water taking the shape of its container, I've embraced a dynamic and open-minded perspective.

Through this internship, I've had the opportunity to expand my professional network significantly. The guidance provided by the Career Center staff has played a crucial role in overcoming my communications and confidence shortcomings. Their support has been transformative, enabling me to navigate not only the technical aspects of the internship but also the interpersonal and communication challenges that often accompany professional growth.

Name: Michael Gorham – May ’19 

Internship Site: Min Engineering 

Position Title: Engineering Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s):Mechanical Engineering 

Work Term: Fall 2018

After graduation, I would like to be a mechanical designer at a mechanical, electrical, plumbing firm; learn all I can about the field and gain skills and manage projects there; then eventually become part of the leadership team at that firm.

Min Engineering is a smaller consulting firm. The size of the firm allows me to interact with and gain experience from the owner and seasoned project managers daily. We dress business casual since we meet with clients professionally. The pace tends to be deadline dependent. When we have plenty of time to work on a project, we can get into the gritty details of the building, but for shorter time horizons, we have to pick up the pace.

Min does mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection for a range of sectors including (but not limited to) residential, commercial, K-12, higher-ed (we are currently doing work at UMBC!), and state and federal government.

I get to gather information on the structure and location of buildings, the people in them, and what the people will be doing. I use this to determine how much heating and cooling we need to provide them. I’ve done this for hundreds of rooms in apartment buildings and town-homes, and for military training facilities.

I researched on the company. What do they do there? How can I relate my experiences to the type of work I will be doing there? Check their website to see who are some people you might run into when you go to the interview. I sent in my resume and followed up the next day with a phone call. 

I went in excited about the opportunity! At the interview, they told me they liked my enthusiasm, and they took me on, in part, because of it. I was honest on my resume and in the interview. The internship was a perfect match for both me and Min Engineering.  With a 5 month old and twins on the way, I needed to find a job this semester! I scoured the web for part-time internships, but found none to be a good match for my skills and career goals. 

I went to UMBCWorks and found the position in under one minute! Last year, the folks at the career center helped me touch up my resume and showed me different ways to look for internships. I highly recommend stopping by their office to any student who wants a job!