Name:Marios Levi
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Formlabs
Position Title: Print Production Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):Mechanical Engineering
Work Term:Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I worked at a 3D printing farm. A print farm is a space that has dozens of printers that we print sample parts on. The printers I worked with are Formlab's Form 2, so they are SLA (resin-based) printers. Although SLA has a much better surface finish and detail than regular FDM (plastic filament) printers, there is a lot of post-processing required, like cleaning each part with alcohol, as well as UV curing each part. I help the team of 8 I am with to clean and cure the pieces, and also assist with CAD'ing new sample parts for different market verticals.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I worked at UMBC's Keith R. Porter Imaging Facility (KPIF). It is located in the basement of one of the biology buildings, and deals mainly with microscopy. At the KPIF I worked to convert microscope image stacks into 3D models, into 3D printable files fit for the Form 2 which we also have. I have been to the career center multiple times, so my resume was well and up-to-date. I loved working with the Form 2, so I called up the company that makes them, and after weeks of interviews, I got the position.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
What I enjoyed most about Formlabs was the culture, and how much it related to my future career goals. I relocated to Boston for the summer, and the city itself was well worth it. Although Formlabs has over 200 employees, it still maintains the startup culture that is expected with such a new company. In this way, most employees were in their 20’s so we saw eye to eye with a lot of topics relating to 3D printing and rapid prototyping. Similarly, I loved the team I worked with, especially because they were all knowledgeable about the technology.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Some of the parts I helped design will be sent to people all over the world. In addition, the resin tanks we use in the printer wear out after a couple uses, and we throw them out often. The only problem was that there was some small amount of resin still in the tanks which is not great for the environment. To fix the problem, me and another intern worked together to build an efficient UV 'curing chamber' that cures the remaining resin in the tanks before disposal.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
If you are passionate about anything, don't stop at nothing to get an internship or career in that field. "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life." I love 3D printing, so I pursued and got this job. In the same way, do not limit yourself to internship finding through just traditional routes (like job finding sites, career center, etc.). Although you should take advantage of those resources as much as you can, try finding and contacting people in your field in any way possible to get your name out.
Like the Career Center on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
#UMBCintern
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!
McCormick & Company, Incorporated, a global leader in flavor, is seeking a Lab Technician reporting to a Product Development Director. This individual will work at the Technical Innovation Center located in Hunt Valley, MD.
With more than $4 billion in annual sales, the Company manufactures markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry – retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. We create differentiating flavors consumers prefer with unmatched quality, science, innovation and service. Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. McCormick makes every moment and meal better™
POSITION OVERVIEW
This Lab Tech will assist in the development of new products and line extensions as well as support our existing line of products through cost reduction and product improvement projects. The successful candidate will provide support to the production plants with product or process issues. Additionally, this position conducts product demos to Marketing which includes preparing food from recipes and evaluates competitive products.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
* 3 years lab experience (it can be a combination work and college)
* Advanced Lab skills
* Ability to thoroughly investigate problems, identify potential solutions and making recommendations to supervisor.
* Ability to prioritize work with minimum supervision and work well under pressure.
* Analytical skills
* Good oral and written communication and decision making skills
* Advanced PC skills
For more information and link to apply here.
Everyone loves those weird online quizzes with titles like “Would You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?” or “Which Disney Princess Are You?” (Ariel, in case you were curious). Those quizzes are always fun, but obviously they don’t have a lot of merit - unless it is your dream to be an actual Disney princess. Also popular are the ones about careers, but once again those quizzes can be pretty superficial. In order to take tests that actually guide you to a possible career path, you usually have to pay good money just to get your results! But as a UMBC student, you have access to several in-depth, personalized career exploration tools to help you realize your full potential! Whether you have absolutely no idea what you want to do with your life (me), or you just want to explore options you might not have previously known existed, there is a plethora of information to be gained from these tools.
If you still really love those fast online quizzes, you will not be disappointed: The Traitify is a super quick and easy quiz that you can even do on your phone. It simply shows you several images and you either choose “me” or “not me”. The results show you how well you fit into categories like inventor, analyser, or action-taker. It also gives you a list of careers that match your results!
If you are looking for something more in-depth that asks you real questions and gives you much more comprehensive results, the FOCUS2 is right for you! This assessment takes about 30 minutes, but it is totally worth it. You complete five inventories - work interest, values, personality, skills, and leisure. After each inventory it provides you with a list of careers that match your results, and after completing all five it combines all of the tests together to show you which careers are the best fit for who you are overall. It also has exploration tools like “What can I do with my major?” or “Compare two occupations side by side”.
Many of you may have already heard of the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (or MBTI) because it is the most widely used personality test in the world. It’s very possible that you’ve taken an abridged or simplified version of the test, but the one provided by the career center is the real deal. Your results come in the form of four letters, each telling you important information about where your energy comes from, how you perceive information, how you make decisions, and what kind of environment you work best in.
If you are still very unsure about your career goals, the Career Center has tons of resources for you. After completing any of these three assessments, you can make an appointment with a career specialist to talk about and interpret your results rather than just reading them on a screen. Our website has a whole page of Career and Major Exploration tools to help you along. Lastly, we have an upcoming Keys to Success workshop all about career and personality assessments! On October 30th at noon in Commons 331, you can learn more about these tests and what they can mean for your future, or even how you work in any of your current positions. Leave a comment below telling your story, whether you are still figuring these things out, or if you’ve taken these tests and have opinions, or just want to share your results!
Name:Elaine Yang
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Erickson Living
Position Title:Central Billing Operations Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):Health Administration and Policy
Work Term:Summer 2017
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
Erickson Living is a network of communities in 11 states currently serving over 24,000 senior residents. At Erickson Living, I am currently in the Central Billing Operations department. This department is the liaison between the providers of services, insurances and other payers and residents. Daily tasks include claims resolution, problem solving, insurance mitigation, and so much more.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I heard of Erickson Living through one of my Management of Aging Services classes. One of the Executive Directors from one of the communities came to speak in my class and inspired me to want to work in this field. I spoke to my internship advisor, visited the career center, contacted the Erickson Living HR and had a phone interview with their management. Not too long after the phone interview and talk with my internship advisor, I was on my way to interning at Erickson Living.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I absolutely love the organization and its commitment to a quality life for their residents. My position works on the backend of operations, which I enjoy because it allows the residents to access the care that they need, with ease.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I believe that my work in the Central Billing Operations department will assist with helping make the workflow more efficient while utilizing people to their maximum potential.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Always attend class when there is a guest speaker, especially if the class is in a field that you are interested because you never know, those conversations could lead to careers of a lifetime.
Like the Career Center on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
#UMBCintern
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!
Interested in a career in medicine? Consider working as a medical scribe with ScribeAmerica!
What does a medical scribe do?
The role of a scribe is to closely collaborate with their assigned physician by documenting the history of each patient evaluated, the doctor’s physical examination, the results of laboratory/radiological studies ordered, and the eventual diagnosis and disposition. Becoming a scribe provides the student with first rate exposure to medical terminology, disease processes, emergency procedures, medications, and the medical decision making process performed by the physicians.
What does it take to be a medical scribe?
This job involves complex of the material and fast-paced environment necessitate that only the sharpest and most motivated students succeed as a scribe. ScribeAmerica seeks dependable and hard working employees that have a desire for an eventual career in medicine, or are interested in learning more about careers in medicine.
Hours:
There are multiple shifts, both day and night and each shift consists of following a single physician, usually lasting 8-12 hours. It is expected that each scribe can commit to 2 shifts per week for at least 2 years.
Paid classroom & clinical training is provided.
ScribeAmerica hires and trains anyone interested in a career in medicine. Paid classroom and clinical training in the medical department to prepare applicants to be medical scribes is provided.
Apply via ScribeAmerica
To apply, visit Scribe America's at: www.ScribeAmerica.com/apply.
As a junior in college, I have crossed the threshold from “You have all the time in the world!” into “What are you going to do after you graduate?”, and the scary truth is I’m not entirely sure yet. But I know that I’m not alone in this. A lot of people have a plan that involves joining the workforce immediately after college, and those people have a little more time before they really have to start making decisions. But for me and a lot of other students, graduate school is on the horizon. And we have to start thinking about that NOW. But how do you know where to start?
I promise this post is not all doom and gloom. But I want to make it clear that it’s okay to be worried and scared! It’s natural, just like how scared we were when making the transition from high school to college. The cure for the fear is to get prepared and use your resources. And - as always - the Career Center is here to save the day! That’s right, we don’t just do careers, we also have services to get students ready for graduate school! So if you’re even vaguely considering continuing your education post-graduation, check out these tools:
Maybe you’re not even sure if you should go to graduate school. As a psychology major, it is essential that I go to graduate school and gain a more specialized degree so that I have the qualifications to work with target populations in a clinical setting. But, there are different types of graduate degrees! Do you want a master’s, doctorate, or professional degree? To better weigh your options, look over this page: “Is Graduate School the Best Option?”
If you plan on seeking a graduate degree but you’re unsure about your desired field, it’s important to decide what is best for YOU. Just like searching for a undergraduate program, finding the right graduate program involves many different factors including research opportunities, the possibility of relocation, and job search support available at those institutions. This page about Selecting the Best Graduate Program for You includes several links to other great websites to help you investigate what programs are out there and what they have to offer.
A very reasonable concern you may have is How to Fund Your Graduate Education. This would be a main reason for students to take a gap year, so they can accrue funds for further education. Many employers will even reimburse your graduate expenses if your degree is in a related field. Other programs like AmeriCorps or Teach for America will help fund your advanced degree after a certain amount of service. Within the graduate institution, you can also gain an assistantship which could help with expenses as well as provide hands-on experience in your desired field.
If you’re already on your way to the application process, look at this Timeline for Applying to Graduate School to make sure that you’re on the right track and confident about your applications.