Read More and Apply via UMBCworks:

• Log in via myUMBC > Topics > Jobs & Internships
• Make sure you have an approved resume under Documents. (If not, upload your current version and click "Schedule Appointment" on the homepage of UMBCworks.)
• Click the Jobs tab
• Search for job ID #9286450

Although your résumé is definitely important, the cover letter can also be a make-or-break factor. Before you even get an interview, your application will have to impress the recruiter or hiring manager, so perfecting your cover letter is key to earning a face-to-face meet. Here are some tips for a perfect cover letter that will catch any recruiter's eye:

1. Tweak your tone for every company.

Don't send generic cover letters that can be used for any job application. You want to make sure that the tone of your letter fits the type of firm you're applying to. Is the company looking for someone with sass or someone more serious? Figure that out on your own, and tailor your letter to what suits the company.

2. Make a case.

You won't be able to get to this on your résumé, so be sure to make the case for why you're the right person for the job and why you want to work for the company on your cover letter. A good way to sell yourself is to connect your experiences with the job description. List your skills and experiences that match the type of candidate they are looking to hire.

3. Be different.

Don't repeat everything on your résumé in your cover letter. The letter is your chance to shine and show a bit of your personality. Repeating what's already been said just takes up valuable space.

4. Don't bring up your weaknesses.

If no one is asking you what your biggest failings are, then don't be so eager to volunteer that information. The cover letter is not the time to reflect on self-improvement; save that for the weakness question you may be asked during the interview.

5. Focus on the company, not yourself.

Try your best to show that you care about the company and how you want to help it grow. Try to avoid using too much "I," and instead show how you can be a helpful addition to the company, not in general.

6. Stick to the right length.

Limit yourself to a page, and try to stick to four paragraphs. The first should comprise an introduction, the position you'd like to apply for, and a sentence briefly summarizing why you'd like the job and why you're a perfect fit. The next two paragraphs should go on to mention applicable skills and specific achievements that further showcase how qualified you are for the job. You can even use some of the space to explain your suitability if it needs more details, such as the fact that you'd move for the job or why you're changing careers. The last paragraph should be a final, brief emphasis on why you're excited for the position and a place for you to thank the readers for their time and consideration. You can also make a polite mention of letting them know you'll be in touch.

7. Keep it clean.

Be sure to repeatedly edit your cover letter, and always have at least one other pair of eyes look it over. Check for grammar mistakes, run-on sentences, and spelling errors. Make sure everything is consistent. If you say "I am" in the first sentence, then don't suddenly switch to "I'm" in the next.

To round out your application package, avoid making these common résumé mistakes, as well.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography

Ford Motor Company will be on campus Wednesday, September 21st to recruit undergraduate and graduate students for various full-time and intern engineering and technical positions.  Summer housing is available for summer interns.

The deadline to apply in UMBCworks to be considered for an interview is THIS WEDNESDAY, September 14th.

Information Session:
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – 9:30am-11am – University Center-Ballroom Lounge - 9:30 Meet & Greet, 10am Information Session, Please rsvp in UMBCworks

Interviews:
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – 12pm-3pm – Candidates will be pre-selected from applications in UMBCworks. Deadline to apply in UMBCworks is Wednesday, September 14th.  

Please note that you must apply both in UMBCworks and on their website. See information below.* It is possible that they may also fill interview slots at their Information Session.

See UMBCworks for position descriptions.

_______________________________________________________________

At Ford Motor Company, we are dedicated to designing, manufacturing and selling high quality vehicles that meet the diverse needs of our customers.  We believe our employees and the different perspectives that they bring to the business are the driving force behind our success. Come discover a company that is focused on the quality and safety of our vehicles, the environment, the community and the world in which we live. Product Development (PD) engineers are responsible for delivering exciting products that are world class in cost, quality, function and time to market. As ONE team, we are committed to delighting our customers and employees by executing consistently while using common global standards, methods and processes with rigor and discipline.  ONE TEAM -- ONE PLAN -- ONE GOAL

We are currently looking to hire in the following areas:
Vehicle Architecture Engineering (Basic Design), Body Exterior Engineering , Body Interior Engineering, Chassis Engineering, Connected Vehicle & Services (CV&S), Design, Digital Innovation (DI), Electrical & Electronics Systems Engineering (EESE), Electrified Powertrain Engineering (EPE), Ford Performance, Global Engine Engineering (GEE), Global Product Planning & Strategy (GPPS), Ford and Lincoln Product Programs, Powertrain Controls, Calibrations, and NVH (PCCN), Powertrain Installations (PTI), Transmission & Driveline Engineering (TDE), Research & Advanced Engineering (R&A), Vehicle Engineering (VE), Vehicle Evaluation and Verification (VEV), Cybersecurity.

Minimum Requirements:
•              Pursing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical and Computer, Aerospace, Chemical, and Materials Engineering plus Computer Science and Math.
•              A GPA of 3.0 or higher
•              Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States.  Visa Sponsorship may be available for cybersecurity positions only.

Preferred Requirements:
•              3.2 GPA or higher
•              Involvement with Formula SAE or similar extracurricular activities, strong communication skills, ability to work within diverse teams

IMPORTANT:  You must apply via BOTH UMBCworks and at http://corporate.ford.com/careers.html

Over 130 Employers are Coming to Campus on Wednesday, September 28th to Recruit Students Like YOU

Are You Ready for the UMBC Fall Internship and Career Fair?
Participate in one or more of the workshops below. Open to ALL majors and degree levels!

This is a great opportunity to learn from industry experts.

Keys to Success: Get Ready...Here They Come! - Resume Workshop- September 12, Noon - 1pm, The Commons 331 - Facilitated by Diane Crump-Fogle, Career Center

Keys to Success: Get Ready...Here They Come! - Resume Workshop- September 13, 5:00 - 6:00pm, The Commons 331 - Facilitated by Christine Routzahn, Career Center

Keys to Success: Get Ready... Here They Come! Interviewing- September 14, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, The Commons 331 - Facilitated by Joe Poplawski, Asymmetrik

Get Ready...Here They Come! - Get the Most out of a Job Fair - September 15, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, Commons 331 - Facilitated by the NSA

Purva is one of the runner-ups of Summer 2016’s #UMBCintern contest! To see Purva’s entries and all of the other wonderful submissions, checkout the hashtag on Twitter. 

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Name: Purva Kulkarni

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Position Title: Operations System Analyst Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Computer Science Master’s 

Expected Graduation Year: May 2017

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I worked on a project called 'Evaluating Documentation Needs for DevOps / Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Projects at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. My day to day work included interviewing people from Software Development, Operations and Project Management teams. Understanding their requirements, pain points and expectations from documents and documentation process, researching which other organizations have successful SRE teams and how they handle their documents, reading and learning from the book “Site Reliability Engineering: How Google Runs Production Systems.” I also participated in Software Development Boot-camp, Mini-Hackathon (coding for Amazon Alexa/Echo), talks/presentations on various topics, and various events arranged for Summer Interns at JPL and at California Institute of Technology (CalTech).

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I applied for this internship via Indeed.com. There were two interviews via telephone (first interview by hiring manager and second by HR). 

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

For me, interning at Jet Propulsion Laboratory was like a dream come true. I enjoyed each and every day of work. JPL is a wonderful workplace to build collaboration with brilliant researchers through a lot of seminars in different fields and resources for training.

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

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Office of Chief Information Officer (JPL OCIO) is starting Site Reliability Engineering projects and they wanted to evaluate each and every aspect of SRE before kick-starting the projects. My project was focused on documentation part of SRE projects. I completed my project within given deadline. As per my mentor, findings, analysis and recommendations mentioned in my paper will definitely guide SRE project management team while designing, creating, sharing and curating the documents. It will also help in streamlining the documentation process.

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

NASA - JPL have year-round internship opportunities available. They are keen on hiring the curious minds. If you are really interested in working at NASA - JPL, keep visiting their websites and applying for the internship positions you are interested in. 

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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!