As a tour guide, I always mention on my tours that one of the things that makes UMBC “an honors university” is our emphasis on undergraduate research. I take my tour group up the stairs on the pond side of Meyerhoff so they can see into the big windows and witness first-hand our students conducting important research. No matter what you guys are actually doing in those labs, it looks pretty impressive. I stress that UMBC makes the opportunity of research accessible to all students, in all disciplines. You can get class credit for it, or even get paid to do it! If you’re not sure how to join a research group, or not even sure you want to do research at all, allow me to share some of my personal experiences.
I’ve had two undergraduate research positions, and my first one I actually gained as a second-semester freshman in the linguistics department. At that point, was a linguistics major, and my academic advisor actually offered me the position during one of our meetings. I will say that my experience in that research group helped me figure out what I DON’T want to do. It was actually a great project, I just didn’t feel like it really aligned with my future goals. And honestly, I consider it a great step forward in my personal development, because figuring out what you don’t like is just as important as what finding what you do like!
Now as a psychology major, I have a new research position in the psychology department. You wanna know how I got that one? I looked through the faculty directory of the psychology department, and sent out a bunch of emails asking to join their team. And it worked! The lesson is: you have to go out there and find research, don’t expect it to come to you. I guarantee plenty of professors in your department are doing research, and if you show that kind of initiative and proactivity, they’ll want to have you. Still not convinced about how research can be helpful? Check out this article that actually features a student from Gaithersburg, Maryland!
Maybe you think that you don’t need to do research because you have no plans of doing research after college. I’m in the same boat. I want to use my degree to serve people directly, not work in a lab! But I know that in order to do what I want, I need to get into graduate school, and my application won’t make the cut unless I have some kind of research under my belt. On the other hand, maybe you’re super against the idea of research, but once you try it you find that you love it! Any experience is good experience, so you shouldn't immediately rule out the idea of research because you think it’s not for you.
The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) has been a premier
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In 2017, HNIP provided 457 internships: of those, 438 were with federal agencies while the remaining 19 were corporate.
Name:Michael Ogunsanya
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: GE Aviation
Position Title: Infra Engineering Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):Mechanical Engineering
Work Term:Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I was involved in two projects. For my first assignment, I was involved in a new tracking system the site is still implementing. As airplane composites are built, they must enter and exit through certain stations. MRAS purchased Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to attach to each piece, as well as sensors monitored all across the plant. With the information recorded to a database, my responsibility in the project was to analyzes their creation cycles and locations. In doing so, I was able to save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars by integrating better transporting routes, as well as informing Senior Manufacturing Engineers of airplane parts that were soon going to expire. Also, I was key in making the tracking program more useful for processes outside of just tracking airplane pieces.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
Fall 2016 Career Fair. I spoke with a senior engineer from Cincinnati who scheduled an interview between us and less than a month later, I was accepted.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
Everyday I come in, I have the choice of sitting at my desk, with software capable of revolutionizing the air industry, or, I could walk a few yards to the shop floor and see how all this hard work is enacted with 10+ feet airplane parts.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
With my work ethic and willingness to help, I saved hours of research and critical thinking that other engineers would have to figure out when completing each of my two projects. I also made contributions towards a $1.9 million tool cleaning proposal, which is now currently being integrated into the site’s everyday operations.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Don't be shy. As an engineer, you're supposed to pursue and advocate for excellence through design, manufacturing, and the overall community. Also, there's nothing you will be given that is "too hard". UMBC prepares you well for when a daunting task is given, but you know putting in the extra effort will result in success.
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Well, the Career Fair has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean all hopes of getting a job or internship are lost! There are still plenty of opportunities for on-campus interviews and various networking events, so make sure you check out our calendar of events for October. Next week, there is an event being held to give students tips on how to use their social media accounts to their advantage when looking for a job. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the dangers of social media, especially in the context of applying for a job. But social media can also be extremely helpful in getting a job! How? I’m glad you asked.
Networking is a big scary word. A lot of us don’t know how to effectively network, but everybody says that it’s crucial for entering the workforce. People underestimate the use of social media in this endeavor, and the most underestimated social media site, in this case, is LinkedIn. So many college students don’t even have a LinkedIn account, but any employer will tell you that it’s the best way to network and communicate professionally. Here’s a little secret: your boss does not want to be friends on Facebook, and they DEFINITELY don’t want to see what’s on your Snapchat story. If you want to have a social media connection with professional colleagues, LinkedIn is the place to go. Here are some great ways to use LinkedIn:
You can search for jobs in your area and connect directly with employers through the site
You can put your LinkedIn URL on your resume so that employers can go directly to your page and see what you’re capable of
There is a UMBC Alumni-Student Networking group on LinkedIn where you can connect with UMBC Alumni and talk to them about their current jobs and their journey. This would be a great way to set up an informational interview with someone in your desired field!
If you need tips on how to set up your LinkedIn account, or how to make your existing account really shine, check out the Career Center’s page about LinkedIn for a step-by-step guide to properly advertising all of your skills and experience. If you want to learn all the special tips and tricks, you should attend the Keys to Success workshop specifically about how to use LinkedIn to your advantage, led by a UMBC Alumni who now owns a consulting group. Come to this lunch-time session hosted by Mike Shelah '95 to learn invaluable career management techniques that can lead to job offers, help you to to make connections, uncover job openings and get referrals. You will also learn the ins and outs of using LinkedIn. The event will be held in Commons 331 on Monday, October 9th at noon.
The Careers in Student Affairs conference is a one-day conference aimed at providing undergraduate, graduate and new professionals an opportunity to explore careers within the field and get connected to other professionals in the region.
The NASPA Region II Careers in Student Affairs Conference (CSAC) Committee invites you to join us in at the University at Albany, Morgan State University and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on Friday, October 6, 2017, to learn, to network, and be inspired.
Registration details can be found here.
]]>Name:Astrid Laredo
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: VueCare Media
Position Title:Animation and Design Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s): Animation
Work Term:Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I create custom made slides that will be displayed in doctor's office(s) waiting rooms. I also create short informative/festive videos/animations that may also be displayed. I help with the company's upgrades by ensuring each practice has the proper slides and videos in their playlists. I also assist with making newsletters that will be distributed among the eye practices the company is partnered with.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
It was a forwarded email by a staff member from the art department. I took interest and made the decision to reply, got an interview, and landed the position on my own.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
The flexibility to be creative and having learned new skills in Graphic design.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I am able to see what the practices select as their content to be viewed on their waiting room TVs, and I have been able to see a lot of the slides I have created. It’s a great way to tell if the doctors like what I have created, as they are able to select multiple slides to be displayed.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Keep applying, don't get discouraged, the right internship will come along and take interest in your talents and see the potential you have.
What I liked most about this internship was having the artistic liberty to create content that my employer is confident enough to provide to eye doctors across the country & Canada. This helped me gain belief in myself, allowed me to do what I love, and brought me a step closer to my degree by earning credit. Working with the Career Center reassured me that not only did I make the right decision in pursuing a degree in art/animation, but that I made the right decision in choosing UMBC as the university in which I can obtain not only that degree but a future career wherever I go.
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Welcome to the new school year everyone! You’re settling into classes, joining clubs, and trying to get your mind back into school-mode. This time of the year can always feel a little awkward, and you might find yourself with huge pockets of time where you could be doing homework, but you just end up staring at your phone or binging Netflix for hours at a time. While I can see how streaming the entire first season of The Defenders in one sitting can be appealing, I personally start to feel an itch, like I really should be doing something else. Something productive. Something that’s really engaging, that kicks my brain into gear in a way that even classes can’t. Well, there’s a solution: getting a job, internship, or volunteer experience! These experiences can develop your skills, widen your network, and help you become more confident in your career goals and how to achieve them.
Let me introduce myself: my name is Katie, and I work in the Career Center as a Peer Advisor. If you ever come to the Career Center during our drop-in resume review hours (M-F 2pm-4pm), you might see me! I’ll be posting weekly blogs for the Career Center this year. I am a junior psychology major with a double minor in linguistics and music. You might also find me leading a large group of dazed families around campus as a tour guide, or on stage with UMBC’s Musical Theater Club. But this blog will mainly involve the Career Center and all of the amazing resources you didn’t even know are available to you!
Next week is one of the Career Center’s BIGGEST events: The Fall Career & Internship fair! The event is on September 27th from 11:30am to 3:30pm in the RAC. This is where over 130 employers come to UMBC to recruit the best and the brightest. But how can you make sure you fit that description? For many people, this experience brings a lot of anxiety and doubt about your abilities, but the Career Center has some tips to make sure you shine:
Come in and get your resume reviewed! You can make an appointment through UMBCworks or come in during our drop-in hours, which are 2pm-4pm Mon-Fri. You’ll meet with a Peer Advisor like me or with a career specialist and we can help you make your resume stand out!
Do some research on the companies that will be there. Here is the full list, as well as the majors they are looking for. It’s important to research employers to show that you really care about gaining a position, and that you’re willing to put the work in to be a competitive candidate. In addition, most job descriptions list what kind of qualifications they’re looking for, so you know exactly what skills you need to highlight.
Create your 30- second commercial. Not sure what that is? Find tips on how to make one here.
Dress to impress! Take a few extra minutes to plan out what your outfit for that day will be. Business attire is suggested.I’m sure I’m not the only one who still has no idea what counts as “business casual” or “business” so here’s a link to help save you some time.
Finally, there’s no need to be nervous. Something I do to calm my nerves before an event like this is gather all of my information. If I know exactly what I’m talking about (or at least sound like I do), then I’ll be fine. And when in doubt: smile! It will make you feel more confident, and you will look more friendly and approachable to employers. The Career Center has your back. Good luck!