Wow, thanks to everyone who came out to the Spring Career & Internship Fair on Friday! I was working there all day, so I probably saw most of you! The fair was a huge success, and I definitely saw some people leaving with smiling faces.
You might be saying to yourself, “Wait, did I miss the career fair?” If you did, you definitely need to check your email more because we made sure EVERYONE knew this event was happening! Now, don’t panic. The career fair isn’t the only place to find a job or internship. Believe it or not, the career fair is just ONE of a plethora of networking events that we hold throughout the semester. We have employers here all the time! So definitely check out our Calendar of Events to see everything else we have to offer this spring. Another fun fact: every UMBC student can also visit the career fairs of other universities in the Maryland Career Consortium! This includes Towson, Goucher, Morgan State, and several other Maryland schools! Be sure to check out the MCC’s full calendar of career fairs at www.marylandcareerconsortium.org or check out the flier attached to this post.
While at the career fair, I was able to interview a few students and ask them about their experience. One student, Tony Dang (‘18, chemistry) gives this piece of advice to future job-seekers, “Just do your research on the company, because I’ve had companies ask me what I know about them and I didn’t have an answer”. Another student, Josie Aquino (‘19, mechanical engineering) mentioned how she prepares for the fair, “I used the Career Guide, I have a hard copy and I looked it up on the website, and all the stuff on resumes was really helpful … I felt like I could make something that looks really presentable and professional.” It seems like the moral of the story is to ALWAYS PREPARE! No matter what you’re going out for, knowing your employer and knowing your resume can get you far.
Some of you might have left the fair feeling discouraged. Maybe you were totally overwhelmed, you didn’t get to talk to anyone, or when asked a question you clammed up. That’s okay! Career fairs can be a crazy experience, but what most people don’t realize is that there are tons of other ways to snag a job or internship. Employers are constantly posting positions on UMBCworks, and our website page on Where to Find Internships and Jobs has all the job-hunting websites that are worth your time. If you need more help through your search process, check out our page on the Job and Internship Search, and make an appointment to meet with our Internship & Employment team who want nothing more than to get you hired!
All I want you to get from this is 1) the career fair was not your only shot, and 2) There are people at the Career Center every weekday ready to help you achieve your goals. No need to despair! The entire month of April is Career Month, so keep an eye out for more events and opportunities.