Spring has finally sprung, and Career Month is in full swing! There have already been so many fantastic events, like IBM-UMBC Day, and the CAHSS Careers Conference. There is another upcoming event I’d especially like to highlight: Arts with a Purpose! This event is made just for our creative majors, including visual arts, graphic design, cinematic arts, film/video, theatre, dance, music, MCS, and INDS. If you fit these majors, come to this event to gain advice from professionals and get a chance to network with them!
UMBC has a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation, but it’s no secret that there is a pretty strong STEM presence here. Biology is the largest department on campus, and it seems like employers are only looking for students with lab experience or tech experience. I understand that trying to pursue your passion in the arts can be disheartening at times, but here at the Career Center we want to ensure you that your career goals are valid and you will achieve them!
Arts with a Purpose is an event that Career Center has held for several years now, and it is not only a place to hear the stories of people who have succeeded in making a living creating things they are passionate about, it is also a great opportunity to network and make connections with those people. Personal networking is one of the best way to find jobs AND land jobs. This event will have 20 employers, including several offices here at UMBC looking to hire students in the arts. How can you best be prepared?
Make a 30-second commercial: this should be a clear and concise tool to communicate the skills you have and the goals for your future. Make sure you practice it so you can convey yourself with confidence!
Do some research on the employers: we have a full list of the employers attending, so check out who you might be interested in so that you go in with a game plan.
Have your resume and/or portfolio ready to go: Bring plenty of copies of your resume to give to employers, and you can even sign up for a 15-minute portfolio review! All students in relevant majors will be sent an email about the event that includes a sign-up for the portfolio reviews.
Be ready to listen: We are bringing in some great panelists that have endless advice to give, so make sure you are taking it all in - and take notes!
We want ALL students at UMBC to feel they have a chance at success, so this event is designed for all of our creative majors to have that chance. Keep a lookout for all the other great events happening this month as part of Career Month!