The summer is a great time to reflect back on the academic year and re-focus on what’s ahead.
This doesn’t have to be a formal process. It also should not cause you to feel anxious or overwhelmed at what might have gone wrong. Instead, look at this time of reflection as a learning opportunity, and a chance to better grasp how your time at UMBC is growing and shaping you.
So while you’re soaking up the sun this summer, here are some topics to reflect on:
Academically, what kind of year did I have?
What were my successes and what were my challenges?
Did I complete as many credits and courses as I had planned?
Was there a particular class that gave me a new perspective?
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 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!
What was my social/extra-curricular involvement like?
Did I get involved on or off-campus in activities/events that interest me?
How well did I balance my social and academic life?
What lessons did I learn from getting involved?
Tip: It’s never too late to get involved. If you are looking for opportunities on campus, be sure to check out the Student Involvement Festival early in the fall semester. In the meantime, feel free to explore the list of campus organizations here.
What is my current satisfaction and confidence level with my academic major?
What aspects of my major am I enjoying and what uncertainties do I still have?
How does what I'm studying impact my future career goals?
If you are still undecided or are considering changing your major: what steps can I take to make progress towards a decision?
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?
How did I budget my money during the academic year?
Do I have concerns about paying tuition or funding other aspects of college?
Am I aware of the financial tools and resources available to me as a UMBC student?
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! While many faculty members will not be on campus, and staff might have limited hours depending on vacation schedules, campus offices are still open and available to assist students.
The UMBC Career Center is seeking an executive student assistant who can work as an integral part of the Recruitment and Technology Team to support the team's core responsibilities. The candidate must be a self-starter who takes initiative and provides valuable input when necessary to improve efficiency and/or current processes. Candidate would need to excel in providing a high level of customer service both internally and externally.
We are looking for a talented individual to provide administrative support as assigned to aid the Employer Relations and Recruitment Programs Team’s efforts in (but not limited to):
Examples of high-level support:
Hours are flexible, roughly 10-15 hours available per week over the fall & spring semesters. Paid training for position to begin over the summer. Position offers opportunities to work over winter and summer sessions as well. Working on our team, you will be afforded the opportunity to gain intimate knowledge and insights that will help in your own career development!
Interested candidates must provide a resume AND Fall 2019 schedule/availability.
Apply via UMBCworks posting: 9307843
Job Responsibilities (On-the-job training provided)
Requirements
Congratulations! In a little more than a week, you’ll have finished another semester. Whether or not everything went to plan, you deserve to feel proud. With summer right around the corner, be sure to take some time to relax, but also use some of that time to work on your career preparedness. Using a couple of hours here and there to get ready for the fall can set you up for resounding success.
I have already talked a lot about what you can do this summer if you don’t have a job in your preferred field (you can see that post here). If you do have a job or internship, make sure you review the Career Center’s Impressing on the Job guide to make sure you put your best foot forward. Our new service Big Interview also has a guide for your first 90 days at a job. Work hard and spend your time wisely, and you will have a ton to put on your resume by the time August rolls around.
Speaking of resumes, this is a great time to update yours! Look at our resume resources online for ideas on how to add projects and classes you completed this semester to your resume, or come into the Career Center for one-on-one help. Graduating seniors, you can still use our services! The Career Center is completely free to use for six months after your graduation, so take advantage of it while you can and let us help you thrive at your dream job. See more about our alumni services here.
Finally, take a little time to make some professional plans for the fall. My two suggestions: find an on-campus job (you can see my post about available positions here) and make a list of the positions you’d like to apply to for next summer. I know it seems crazy to be thinking about next summer’s internships and jobs when it isn’t even this summer yet, but a lot of companies open and close applications much earlier than you think, and being the first to apply is always a good look!
Before you know it, your undergraduate education will come to an end. You’re probably excited to say good-bye to papers, lab reports, and exams (unless you plan to attend graduate school)!
Lifelong learning can come in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to: meeting and engaging with new people, traveling, community involvement, reading and keeping up to speed on current events, pursuing career opportunities, certificate programs, and picking up new hobbies! Learning does not have to end when you graduate; your educational journey could just be getting started.
Below are a few tips/resources to becoming a lifelong learner:
UMBC Graduate School: If you plan on pursing an advanced degree, look no further! This fall, UMBC is awarding returning retrievers with a $1,000 scholarship! Visit the Graduate School web site to learn more about our exciting program offerings!
UMBC Division of Professional Studies: Already have a job lined up but still interested in continuing your education? UMBC's Division of Professional Studies has courses, certificates and programs, designed to fit the busy schedule of the working professional. Visit our Open Houses at our Main Campus or Shady Grove next month!
UMBC Training Centers: If you are looking to gain a new skill and need flexible and affordable options, you may want to visit our Training Centers. High quality, flexible professional education and training opportunities are available year-round! Some courses are open to all individuals (no application needed)!
Remain active: Clubs/organizations are available outside of college! A simple Google search will direct you to a variety of local activities where you can participate, take lessons from aerobics, to sports, to even learning a new language! Meetup.com is an excellent resource for connecting with people who share similar interests!
Build your brand: Our Career Center is not just for current students! Alumni can make connections through various services that the Career Center offers. Seek out professional development opportunities within your workplace, including conferences, workshops, mentoring programs, or leadership trainings. Now that you are in a real-world setting, there will be other skills you will need to learn!
Stay in touch: As your graduating class prepares to travel down different paths, you will have so much to offer one another as you gain further knowledge and life experiences. By staying in touch with former classmates, you may encounter opportunities to collaborate in work or network in a field different than your own. To start, you can join UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni, open to graduates of the last decade. Membership is free via the UMBC Alumni Association, which offers chances for networking and fun throughout the year. Join our LinkedIn page to see where over 60,250 UMBC alumni are working!
Life after college is what you make of it. Keep an eye open to the countless experiences that are waiting for you outside of UMBC. Your very next lesson may be one that carries you through life!
Our first Big Hairy
Audacious Goal (BHAG) of DestinationsDIGITAL is to strengthen the federal IT
workforce to support our mission priorities for Safety, Infrastructure and
Innovation. Technology is a huge part of how deliver our mission and
priorities.
· DOT has a mountain of data we need help organizing,
analyzing and visualizing
· DOT has help implementing intelligent software
· DOT has to continue promoting cybersecurity
· DOT has Agile solution delivery
· DOT has smart people like you!
If you are interested in public service technology and DOT’s
mission, we want to hear from you!
To go to HackerRanks website for the Code Challenge, use this
link:
https://www.hackerrank.com/tests/c4pon6i3f5d/796457449f609e2ed9a609bf73cfd082
The federal government must attract top IT talent to
modernize federal IT systems and deliver the most secure and effective services
to the American people. To recruit the best qualified IT talent, in the most
timely and cost-effective manner, we need to transform the federal IT hiring
process.
There are three seperate #CIOCode Challenges:
· first challenge for Front End launches May 6
· second challenge for Core CS begins June 10
· third challenge for Dev/Ops begins July 8.
Did you know?
DOT is hiring now for Cybersecurity and IT positions! Check
out all DOT open opportunities on USAJOBS.GOV