Last spring, I was going through the internship application process for the first time. I had put together various forms of my resume and had written different cover letters for around six different internships. At the end of the process, I had found out I had only been offered a spot with two organizations. Thankfully, one of those spots was with my top choice, but it was still disheartening to get rejection after rejection.

My acceptances weren’t sent to me until mid-April, after I had been rejected from the four other places. So essentially, the first two weeks of April I was a big ball of anxiety. Instead, what I wish I had done was try to find other options for the summer. Even if it wasn’t an internship, I wish I had looked into volunteering.

I have a lot of students come in for drop-in appointments (2-4 PM Monday to Friday on the 2nd floor of Math and Psych) and tell me that they didn’t think that their volunteering experience was important enough to put on their resumes. Employers love to see that you’re giving back to your community. Plus, you gain transferable skills in almost everything that you do, even if you’re not paid.

I also wish I had realized there are tons of options for volunteering within my field. I had the ability to work within my field over the summer even if I didn’t get an internship. For example, I’m a Political Science major. Last spring the election was the talk of the town- I could have easily volunteered for a campaign.

Something else that I wish I had done was talk to people I knew. I should have asked my professors whether or not they had anyone that they could put me in touch with. I could have even asked the firm I interned with over the winter whether or not they had a spot for me over the summer.

If I hadn’t gotten my internship, the one thing I think I would have focused on was studying for my LSAT. Just because we don’t have school during the summer, doesn’t mean there’s nothing productive that can be done. The LSAT is probably the most important part of my law school application process. It’s truly a test of practice- the more you take it, the easier it gets. Starting early would have been extremely beneficial to me. Looking back now, I wish I had focused more on it last summer, even having an internship.

Just because something happens that prevents you from moving forwards with your original plan, doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. Come hear about the paths UMBC alum took after they graduated! This is a perfect chance for you to ask questions about how to deal with unforeseen  circumstances. The panel will be on 4/27 from 12PM-1PM in Commons 331. The alum graduated with majors in many different disciplines - from history to computer science.

Name:Justin Joseph

Internship, Co-op or Research Site:2U in Lanham, MD

Position Title:HRIS Intern           

Major(s)/Minor(s): Information Systems

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

As an HRIS intern, my day to day responsibilities include keeping track of various integrations within different systems, auditing multiple systems for data integrity, sending new hires their onboarding events, monitoring and responding to inquires, compiling standard reports, identifying and researching best practices in HRIS and Big Data Analytics.

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

In order to get this position, I went to the Career Center to get my resume approved and once it was approved I applied for this position via Indeed.com.

Which resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, LinkedIn or other social media and Indeed.com.

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

One thing I enjoyed the most about 2U is the people. All the employees at my company are super friendly and helpful. Also, we have the startup culture mentality at 2U where we help each other out to accomplish our goals.

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

I believe I made an impact through my work by being a team player and making sure all the assignments are completed on time. Also, I like to keep myself accountable and do my best by contributing to the team.

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

One piece of advice I would give to a student who is seeking an internship would be to apply everywhere and don't give up! It's rare to find an internship of your choice on the first try and it’s important to be persistent when looking for any internship.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position.

An amazing thing about this internship is that not only did I get experience related to my field, but I also got three academic credits by enrolling in PRAC.

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We’ve all heard it; paying attention to details is important. Details are what can make or break a paper, show that you’re putting in that extra bit of effort, or demonstrate to someone that you care. Many times, these details are second nature. Other times, they don’t come as naturally. We have to consciously think about how to make ourselves stand out.

There are a lot of very basic tasks in the professional world that we don’t  think twice about, that can actually have a huge impact on the way you’re perceived. For example, I would have never had thought that I had to consciously make an effort to pay attention to my mannerisms when eating dinner with my boss or potential employer. Put a napkin on your lap, choose the right fork to use (let’s be real, how often do I eat at places that give me fork size options), cross your legs properly. These details are what display your professionalism in situations where you might not even think your professionalism is relevant.

On April 20, from 5:30PM-8PM, the Career Center is hosting a Dining Etiquette Dinner geared at helping students develop a plan of action at dinners with employers. Pre-registration is required; the link to do so is here.

What other details matter? I’ve heard it over and over again; your handshake is one of the most important parts of an interview. It displays confidence, and it’s part of the first impression an employer will have of you. It’s important to have a firm, but gentle grip (AKA don’t crush the employer’s hand). This seems like a simple detail, but I can tell you I shake the hands of many students every day I’m in the office, and most of the time the handshakes are weak. I consciously think about how impressed I am when I get someone who gives me a strong, confident handshake.

The way you dress is obviously super important, but it’s more than just the clothes you put on. Make sure that your tie is tied properly and tightly, or make sure that the seams on the back of your jackets are open, and please check to see if you have any holes in your clothing!