It’s Never too Early to Start: Summer Intern Recruitment Has Begun
While many people think of summer as a time for hitting the beach or relaxing poolside, a large majority of UMBC students spend their time learning more about their majors, developing professional skills and networks and often earning money through internships and research. Several employers have already started recruiting on UMBC’s campus for these opportunities. Last year, a number of our students secured intern placements across various industries by starting their search early. To get a preview of their experiences, check out thisarticle which highlights some of their work.
If your student hasn’t secured an opportunity yet, it’s not too late to get him or her connected with a great internship, co-op, or research experience.
Three quick tips to get on the path to success:
1) Use Campus Resources – The professional staff of the Career Services Center (http://careers.umbc.edu) are available for one-on-one resume reviews and personalized meetings to develop strategies for seeking out positions. The Center also coordinates a range of networking events both on- and off-campus designed to connect talented students directly with organizations who can benefit from their skills. Further, all UMBC students have access to UMBCworks, an online database exclusive to our campus, featuring internships, co-ops, research, part-time and full-time jobs in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and nationwide. Students just need to upload a resume to get started.
2) Develop Professional Skills – For many students, an internship is their first professional experience and the process of navigating the unwritten rules of the workplace can be daunting. Recognizing this, UMBC offers students opportunities to practice interview skills via mock interviews as well as workshops on topics like networking, what to wear in the workplace and building a relationship with a mentor.
3) Connect with Faculty – Particularly for students interested in research, UMBC faculty are key partners in this process. Many summer research programs are currently advertising for applicant and want faculty references. Prospective interns and students need to be pro-active in ensuring that their professors know them. Regular attendance in class, using office hours (even for academically strong students!) and reviewing the UMBC website to understand faculty’s research interests are all important steps to building strong relationships with professors and instructors.
Finally, could you or your employer benefit from a motivated and skilled UMBC intern this summer? Interns can often be a cost effective way to grow capacity and the experience you provide can put a student on the path to professional success. Visithttp://careers.umbc.edu/employers/jobs.php or call The Career Services Center at 410-455-2216 to learn more.