Scammers have always been around and UMBC’s Career Center works hard to protect and support you. However, in this challenging economic climate, we are seeing scammers get more creative and deceptive. They will often use the names of real companies and present themselves as being affiliated with UMBC, when they are not.
HERE is one example of a fraudulent email coming from “Corestaff”. You will notice:
The email domain of the sender goes to a GMAIL account and not to a real company domain such as “corestaff”.
In this email, they are asking for you to email them back with your personal email address. Why?
There is no contact information in the sender’s signature, such as a company phone number, physical address and or website.
What is the job position and why is there no description? The language is very ambiguous throughout this email.
The email message contains poor grammar and typographical errors
From: Allison Bae <allisonrayson199@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 11, 2020, 10:24
Subject: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION
Dear students,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County health professionals have been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 over the past two months.Therefore the university is organizing an online part time job to sustain the students living.I'm happy to inform you that our reputable company CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®,is currently running a student empowerment program. KINDLY EMAIL BACK WITH YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS IF INTERESTED IN THIS JOB POSITION.
Kind Regards
Allison Bae
HR Manager/Consultant
How does a scammer get my UMBC email address in the first place?
Your email address is not private information. If someone knows your name, they can look up your UMBC email address in the campus directory, or if you have your email address attached to social media or other online accounts and those get hacked, or if someone you know has had their email hacked, etc. There are many different ways your email address can end up in the hands of a scammer.
The FROM address on an email can easily be spoofed/faked. Just because an email you receive looks like it came from an “@umbc.edu” address or someone you know, does not always mean it actually came from that person.
What should I do when I receive an email that is questionable? Here are some quick tips:
Never click on the links in a phishing message. Just by clicking on the link, you may download a malicious program onto your computer.
Look at the email domain of the sender (john@gmail vs. john@avalidcompany) Be CAUTIOUS if the domain does not match the domain of the company.
NEVER provide your credit card, bank account numbers, social security number or other financial documentation.
BE CAUTIOUS of an employer offering a check before work has commenced and NEVER deposit a check before work has commenced. This is almost always a scam.
NEVER engage with an employer that requires an initial investment, such as a payment by wire.
BE CAUTIOUS of an employer whose posting includes many spelling and grammatical errors.
BE CAUTIOUS of an employer who asks for anything out of the ordinary such as a picture of you or who is not operating by normal hiring procedures, such as hiring you without interviewing you.
Google the employer’s phone number, fax number and/or email address. If it does not appear connected to an actual business organization, this is a red flag. Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/us/consumers/), Hoovers (http://www.hoovers.com/) and AT&T’s Anywho (http://www.anywho.com/) can be used to verify organizations.
For more information from DoIT on phishing, click HERE
You will continue to receive scam emails periodically from all types of sources.
Please refer to Page 65 of the Career Guide - "Is this Posting for Real?".
HERE is a link to that page.
Do you feel that you have been scammed?
If you have already given your personal information, you should follow DoIT's recommendations. You may want to alert the campus police about your particular concerns.*In order to assist the DoIT Security Team's investigation, recipients of the email should send security@umbc.edu a notification including the full header set of the message. These headers are not normally displayed but can be easily accessed. For more instruction on how to send the full header set of the message, please refer to: https://wiki.umbc.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1867970
If you have already fallen victim to this scam and transferred funds to someone, please file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. They can be reached at the following web address: Internet Crime Complaint Center
If you have not wired money to the criminals, please stop communicating with them. You should still report the situation to the campus police and follow DoIT’s instructions. There is no need to report it to the FBI.
The Career Center is here to support you. If you encounter a position that you fear may be fraudulent, don’t hesitate to reach out to us careers@umbc.edu
UMBC FinancialSmarts is dedicated to help you with accessing resources that can get your finances back on track!
These featured courses from the "Smart About Money" program created by the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) are designed to help people manage their finances during this difficult time:
Click on the link below for more information!
10 Tips for Building Resilience and Staying Positive
As a college student, you may be well acquainted with feeling overwhelmed – and likely you have adopted coping strategies of your own. But given the current COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on your career plans, you may be feeling a greater sense of disorientation, powerlessness, and isolation. And while we all have little control over the progression of world events, what we do have control over is our response. Learning to respond well to change is an essential skill, in life, and in your career.
Here are tips for responding well:
1.Make the most of this unforeseen time.
When plans don’t pan out as you hoped, it’s important to look for the silver linings to circumstances. The old adage “Turning lemons into lemonade” may serve as a beneficial stance during these times. If your internship has been cancelled, for example, consider using this time to focus on areas of your life that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Consider the common interview question, “Tell me a time when something didn’t go your way – how did you respond?” Use this as an opportunity to show a positive response – and how you (and this future employer) benefited!
2.Build/nurture connections/network.
As the world has shuttered, feelings of isolation grow. Seeking connections with peers and professionals alike can help you weather the storm while also advancing your career/industry knowledge. Reach out to professionals who are working in a role/industry you aspire to for aninformational interview. Use the Career Center’s student/alumni network to identify professionals in your field.
3.Get your ducks in a row.
Now might be the time to address areas of your life that you’ve had to put on the back burner. Consider sharpening your knowledge in an area that you lacked the time to work on. Whether it’s learning to cook better (or trying a new dish), organizing a closet, photos, reading a book, or listening to a podcast, etc. Career-wise, this might mean updating your resume, and crafting your LinkedIn presence or website. Eventually the pace of life will resume, and you will come out feeling a bit more organized, confident, and a step ahead.
4.Give back/volunteer.
Shifting your focus to those in greater need can do wonders for helping you put life in perspective while increasing your sense of connections. As with other national crises in history, building human capital (and your resume – as a silver lining!), can be very fulfilling and soul nurturing.
5.Prioritize your health.
You’ve heard it said, the benefits of exercise are numerous! Now is the time to get outside and walk, bike, garden, bird watch, etc. If you can, start and end your day outdoors. Try to tune in to nature and turn off artificial devices that detract from it. When our bodies are stressed, we need to fuel it with foods that give us energy and increase our ability to fight off illness. Find simple ways to ramp up fruits and veggies – and eliminate processed foods as much as you can. Keep it simple – and allow for indulgences now and then!
6.Get creative.
Although life may be at a slower pace, your thoughts may be anything but calm. Finding time to indulge in creative outlets can bring about a greater sense of peace. Journaling, painting, and crafts can be a great way to channel and process thoughts.
7.Create rituals/routines.
As life feels so out of step with our normal routines, it can cause increased feelings of chaos. Creating morning and evening rituals can help increase feelings of calm and greater sense of control. Take a walk, sip your favorite beverage, journal, listen to music. Routines can ground you during times of stress and change. Setting a schedule for working on your career-related activities daily can help build a sense of control and empowerment that is essential during times of ambiguity.
8. Surround yourself with positivity.
Whether it’s art, or music, or people, choose to seek the uplifting. Photos of loved ones, inspirational quotes, scripture, etc., can foster a greater sense of happiness and hopefulness.
9.Express your appreciation.
When life is challenging and things seem to be daunting, one way to elevate your mood is to take a moment to express love and gratitude to others. Whether family, friend, or colleague, a simple note, message, act of encouragement, and gratitude is all it takes.
10.Celebrate small wins.
It’s important to recognize progress – no matter how small. Share those celebrations with others – and celebrate together. The path to victory is lined with small wins.
Whether you are facing a global pandemic, a job loss, or some other unexpected set of circumstances, learning to adapt to unforeseen circumstances is a skill that you will use repeatedly and will help you move from surviving to thriving!
Remember that theUMBC Counseling Center and theCareer Center offer an array of services and support to help you successfully navigate this challenging time.
Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The University System of Maryland's Women's Forum has opened their application for Scholarships, professional development and research awards. Please consider applying and/or sharing with your networks!
Visit http://www.usmwomensforum.org/awards for application information.
Applications are due by May 31, 2020.
Awards are open to any female or female-identified USM student, faculty or staff member.
If your internship or research plans for the summer have changed due to the pandemic, you are probably thinking, what can I do now? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Beyond internships, there are many ways for you to build skills and experience over the summer.
Use this time to become career ready.
You may be thinking, how can I gain experience without an internship? This is your opportunity to think about creative ways to use your skills and passion.
Use this time wisely so that you are ready to shine and hit the ground running as future opportunities become available. Remember, the Career Center is here to assist and support you. You can reach us at internships@umbc.edu.
Job searching can feel challenging and stressful at any time but especially now with the increased uncertainty and tight job market brought on by COVID-19. You might understandably feel increased pressure to begin applying quickly and furiously to as many jobs as you can. However, we’d like to advise you to complete a very important foundational step first – self-discovery of strengths, interests, skills, and values.
Much like when you build a tower, you must start with a solid base before you start building upper levels or risk the whole thing crashing to the ground and having to start over. In building a career, this might mean discovering where your passions lie, recognizing what comes easily and naturally to you, acknowledging patterns of strengths that have been present throughout your life, and considering what qualities and aspects of work are most important to you in order to feel satisfied and fulfilled.Taking the time to do this necessary work will allow you to better articulate yourself, market yourself to employers, and successfully navigate the shifting job terrain.
Not sure how to determine your strengths, interest, skills, and values? The UMBC Career Center offers free assessments such as the FOCUS 2 and MBTI as well as a useful dependable strengths workshop activity here. If you would like to discuss these topics with a career specialist, you can make a 60-minute appointment for major decision making, career decision making, or FOCUS2 and MBTI interpretation here.
When job searching, it is essential that you first focus on identifying your strengths and skills. Don’t skip this fundamental step.
It has been quite a year, to say the least!
We have witnessed UMBC grit at its finest. Together, our campus community has worked hard to remain connected, and has pressed forward in the midst of great adversity and uncertain times.
We are all still adjusting to the changes brought on by COVID-19, and we know that it is still on the forefront of most every student’s mind. It may be difficult to remember what the academic year was like before we became a virtual community.
However, as spring semester winds down, we encourage you to approach the summer season as a time of well-earned rest and reflection. Recognize the growth and development that took place over the entirety of this past year and be proud of your accomplishments. Identify any obstacles or challenges you faced and take the opportunity to develop new goals and/or strategies that will better position you for the road ahead.
Consider the following:
Academically, what kind of year did I have?
Tip: Review your class schedule for fall semester and make sure it still makes sense given the academic year you just completed (i.e.- do you need to repeat a class? Are you enrolled in too many credits?).
Tip: Consider taking online summer courses as a way to catch-up or get ahead. Summer registration is still open and doesn’t require advising clearance. Remember, Finish 15 to stay on track!
Note: If you have still not registered for fall semester and are in need of advising assistance, please contact the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising at oapa@umbc.edu.
What was my social/extra-curricular involvement like?
Tip: It’s never too late to get involved. If you are looking for opportunities on campus, be sure to check out the following sites:
What is my current satisfaction and confidence level with my academic major?
Tip: If you are still exploring career options related to your academic major, spend time this summer talking to people who have careers that interest you.
Tip: Check out the self-exploration resources online via UMBC’s Career Center
Tip: Participate in The Major Event during the fall semester. Stay tuned for updates!
Financially, where am I right now?
Tip: Check out the status of your student account on myUMBC (under the topic Billing & Personal Finances) to be sure everything is in order.
Tip: Explore the Financial Smarts @ UMBC website for great information on financing your education, living on a budget, and the concept of credit.
Finally, if you need support this summer, please know that UMBC is still up and running virtually! Click here to access the COVID-19 student site for a centralized list of campus contact information and resources.
