Caroline Bodnar

Role at the UMBC Career Center: I help people figure out "what they want to be when they grow up" and what steps they need to take to get there.

Q: Where have you earned your college degrees?

A: Undergrad = University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. Wahoowa! Grad= Towson University in Towson, MD.

Q: What program(s) did you study? How did you choose your major?

A: B.A. in Psychology. I started out a Biology major on the pre-med track but decided that I wanted to help people without having to take all those advanced science and math courses. I basically took every Psych course the school offered because I loved the subject that much!

M.A. in Counseling Psychology

Q: Tell me about the job and internship process when you were in college. Were you able to find job/internship positions that were related to your major or your career interests?

A: I interviewed for a work-study on-campus job as a fiscal tech assistant in UVA's biomedical engineering department on my first day of class and was offered the job on the spot. I kept that job for all 4 years including summers because they gave me a raise every year. Internships were not really emphasized so I did not have any. However, I was a research assistant in a cognitive Psych lab for academic credit for 4 semesters.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

A: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

Q: Why should students visit the Career Center?

A: Students and alumni should visit because you don't have to do everything on your own. I never went to my college career center mistakenly thinking they could not help me. As a first generation college student, I didn't have anyone else to point me in the right direction so it would have made things infinitely easier if I had used the resources my school offered. Plus, we are fun and friendly people so students should not be intimidated to check us out.

Q: What is your favorite aspect about UMBC?

A: This is the fifth university I have worked for and while each one has had a unique culture and personality, I really like the small feel of UMBC and how supportive everyone is of each other. It is such a pleasure to work with UMBC students because they are so polite, hard-working, and appreciative. Plus, we're a little quirky and I think that's pretty cool.

Q: What is one item on your bucket list?

A: I really want to try sky-diving. I was all set to do it on my 30th birthday and then I discovered that I was pregnant so I decided to hold off for a bit. I also love travel and want to see as much of the world as I can in my lifetime.

Q: What is one aspect of the DC/Baltimore area that you often explore?

A: My husband and I like to visit off-the-beaten path places. One recent interesting find is the Mansion on O Street in DC where you can wonder around themed rooms and find secret passageways. I also love animals so the National Zoo is an old fave that is free!

Want to connect with Caroline or any of our great Career Center team? Call our office at 410-455-2216 or check out our contact us page here: http://careers.umbc.edu/aboutus/

Getting Your Dream Internship

Name: Gretchen Quiteles

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)

Major(s)/Minor(s): Health Administration and Policy

Expected Graduation Year: December 2014

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

When I come in I assist Hilary Strahota, the Senior Specialist of Communications. Since I've started I have transcribed an audio interview she had with one of the Emergency and Preparedness personnel from the CDC (Center for Disease Control). I have also been helping her keep track of the publications for the upcoming fiscal year. A big project I will be working on throughout my internship is sorting through all the photos the association has had since the beginning and determining which ones will be used for future publications. Responsibilities I have is to assist with the APHL twitter account, help proofread and edit publications, research images for articles and create weekly e-newsletter updates when needed.

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

This past summer I was on many job search engines and learned about Indeed. I didn't think I would be able to find an internship to my liking but when I found the internship position I applied immediately. When they sent me an e-mail about a phone screening for the position I prepped myself. I did the same prep for the team interviews that followed. I usually prep by reading through my resumes, reviewing my LinkedIn profile and thinking about my past leadership skills in organizations. After I prep I think of possibly interview questions and create answers that would strengthen my application. But before the phone screening and interviews, I always sat myself down and took a deep breath so I could relax. That's how I knew I wanted the position the most and it definitely helps.

Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?

Indeed.com

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

I really enjoyed learning how influential this association is to public health. I never knew that this association is the reason why the CDC receives funding and how they retrieve the data needed to send out the public. Every time I come into the office I feel as if I learn something new about current public health issues and I love it!

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

Everyone in the workplace has their own work ethic and personality that creates a team. With each personality it can really strengthen a team. Diversity is what is needed the most to achieve a lot.

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

Always listen to your gut. Never give up applying to places. I was rejected by many internships that I thought would be perfect for me and when I got the offer for APHL I was happy the other places rejected me.

Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

Working with an open mind can take you further than you can imagine.

Laura McDonald

Role at the UMBC Career Center: I help students identify their passions, strengths, and career interests. I also help them prepare to achieve their long term academic and career goals.

Q: Where have you earned your college degrees?

A:Loyola University MD University of MD, University College University of MD, Baltimore County (Go Retrievers!)

Q: What program(s) did you study? How did you choose your major?

A: M.A. in Education/School Counseling (Loyola). I wanted to pursue a second career in counseling. I realized that I had a passion for helping others realize their natural gifts and pursue their dreams. M.S. in Computer Systems Management (UMUC). My goal was to stay cutting edge in the technology field, and increase my career opportunities. B.S. in Information Systems Management (UMBC). The area of IT was a fast growing field. I had strong technical and analytical skills and enjoyed the combined focus of business and IT that the program offered.

Q: Tell me about the job and internship process when you were in college. Were you able to find job/internship positions that were related to your major or your career interests?

A: Yes, I was able as an undergrad to find lots of Co-op opportunities! That is what excited me about going to UMBC. The school was "cutting edge" in this area in the mid '80's. I was able to get a co-op position in IT at NASA, and only delayed my graduation by 1 semester. As a result of having impressive work experience on top of a strong academic background, I got a job as a systems consultant with a Big 8 Accounting firm immediately upon graduation. I owe tremendous thanks to UMBC, and Dr. John Martello for making those opportunities possible. Internship opportunities were incorporated into the School Counseling Masters' program at Loyola. It was a great opportunity to work in a variety of school settings, so that I could get a feel for what was the best fit for me once I graduated.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

A: "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." -Confucious

Q: Why should students visit the Career Center?

A: AS SOON AS THEY GET TO UMBC, they should meet with us to learn about important steps they should take to discover their interests and strengths, and plan their career. This process begins immediately, and continues throughout their time at UMBC.

Q: What is your favorite aspect about UMBC?

A: It is a high quality institution that emphasizes the importance of obtaining valuable work and academic experiences. It's also a great value!

Q: What is one item on your bucket list?

A: To return to Switzerland and Austria with my husband and 3 kids and "re-do" our honeymoon.

Q: What is one aspect of the DC/Baltimore area that you often explore?

A: I love to go to the Baltimore harbor with my yellow lab, and anyone else who wants to join me, and walk along the water from Harbor East to Canton.

Want to connect with Laura or any of our great Career Center team? Call our office at 410-455-2216 or check out our contact us page here: http://careers.umbc.edu/aboutus/