Name:Chyna Ayres

Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Columbia Academy Thunder Hill Preschool

Position Title: Preschool Teacher Aid

Major(s)/Minor(s):Psychology/English

Work Term:Spring 2018

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

A typical day starts off with greeting the children and their parents as they are getting settled into the classroom. Once the parents leave, we interact with the children as they participate in activities with their classmates until breakfast time. During breakfast time, me and another co-teacher, help the children clean up and set the tables for breakfast. Once breakfast is over, one teacher helps with potty training and the other teacher helps with cleaning the tables and making sure the children have had enough to eat and drink. Throughout the day, we do art, we do circle time where we introduce new material and concepts to the children in creative ways, we take them outside to play when the weather is nice, we dance and sing to music, then we prepare for lunch and more potty training takes place. After lunch, the children take a nap that lasts up to two hours. After nap time,  the children use the bathroom and prepare for snack time. And after snack time, aftercare takes place.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I heard about an career event on campus and I decided to apply to the job because it was exactly in my career interests. I had to apply online with an attachment of a resume and a cover letter. I went to the Career Center to have someone help me create a cover letter and look over my resume. I found the service very helpful and helped me land this job. No more than a day later, I received a phone call from the company and they wanted me to come in for an interview and was hired soon after.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?

I have enjoyed the learning process of entering the career as a preschool teacher. Through the company, I have been able to gain training and receive certificates relating to child development in Maryland. I was even able to attend a conference this year as well. I also love the caring and supporting atmosphere I receive from the preschool center. I can't wait to see what will happen as I grow into my career and I find my niche working with children and parents.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe that I've been able to create an impact at my job by being a great team player when it comes to creating and participating in developmental activities with the children. I also help to create an impact on the children's lives and empowering them to become comfortable in their skills and abilities.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

If you love working with children, just know that you have to be skilled in working with the children's families as well. Also, having a lot of patience is key.

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As college students, I’m sure you’ve written your fair amount of essays. I know I sure have. But writing professional documents is a whole different ball game. Sure, a lot of the same skills are needed. Proper grammar is important and effective communication is a must. There are a few key skills, however, that only come with writing and reading hundreds of resumes. We don’t expect you to do that, which is why we’re here to help with all your professional document needs. Write a first draft, then drop by the Career Center (drop-ins weekdays from 2 pm - 4 pm) to get it professionally reviewed.

When you’re writing a resume keep in mind, it must convey a lot of information in one page without looking crowded or disorganized. That's why we suggest ditching the template and doing it by hand. Check out some sample resumes on our website to get an idea of how to format them. You may notice that there are a lot of different types of sections. We want you to include everything that will showcase your hard work the best, but the ones that must be included are Contact Information, Education, Skills, and Experience. When you’re writing your experience section, try to have descriptive bullet points that show the value you brought to the company you worked for. When in doubt, use this simple formula: action verb + what you did, who you did it for/with, and why it mattered. Check out a longer guide here.

Cover letters are job specific. That is, when you’re writing a resume, it can be used to apply for multiple jobs, but a new cover letter should be written for each job you’re applying to. Samples of cover letters can be seen here. Overall, they should be one page long, with three to four paragraphs. The first should describe how you found the position, the second why you want to work for the company, the third why you’d make a good fit and the fourth a salutation, thank you, and reminder of your contact information. As a rule of thumb, you should reduce any  negative language (whether it be about you or the company). Check out a more extensive guide and some examples on our website.

Other documents you might be asked for include (but are not limited to) CVs, personal statements, and writing samples. If you have questions about any of these, please feel free to make an appointment with a Career Counselor. Samples of documents can also be found here on our website.

Name:Mamadou Aliou Diallo

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Regal Beloit

Position Title: Engineering Design and Applications Intern

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

Work Term:Summer 2018

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

As an intern in the Applications team, my duties are to review customer requests and select couplings that best meet their application needs. This involves ensuring that selections are neither overemphasized or undersized, which would lead to overpricing or failure, respectively, and that they meet industry regulations. This also includes making engineering modifications to standard couplings as needed in order to meet specifications.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first learned of the position during the Spring 2018 Career Fair after speaking with the recruiters, who suggested that I apply online. After applying for the position through UMBCworks, I was called in for an interview. I was finally offered the position after two interviews.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?

I enjoyed that fact that my job was never repetitive. Every application is different and therefore requires me to conduct lots of research, almost like a detective. As a result, I learned much about coupling applications in other industries such as steel, paper, and oil. Additionally, I enjoyed working with and learning from other engineers in the company. Everyone was understanding and helpful in making me feel comfortable not only at the beginning of the internship but throughout. The company also has a great culture.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I think my work made a valuable impact as it helped in making sure that requests were processed in a timely manner. I also worked on projects to help improve the efficiency of the process, which will positively impact the company long term.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Be involved in extracurricular activities. After being hired, I spoke with one of the recruiters as to why I was selected out of the many applicants. She replied that my involvements outside of the classroom were what stood out the most. For her, it showed that I was a well rounded individual and that I am able to manage multiple responsibilities at once. Extracurricular activities are a great way to distinguish yourself from every other student out there. And they show that you have some leadership experience and that you’re driven, which are skills highly valued by any employer.

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!