The Spring 2024 Career & Internship Fair is officially almost here! Before you join us at the Retriever Activities Center (RAC) on Friday, February 9, from 11:30-3:30 PM, we wanted to share a few final tips and recommendations so that you are fully prepared for the event and get the most out of your Career Fair experience.

• Research Employers Beforehand. We are breaking records by having the LARGEST number of employers to date at this event! To ensure you're speaking to the right-fit companies for you on Friday, do your homework beforehand. Download the Career Fair Directory, make note of employers of interest, and plan your route in advance. You can review employers on Handshake as well.
• For International Students: this year we've included a page in the directory listing employers hiring international students. Be sure to check that out on page 6!

• Dress the Part. Your outfit for the Career Fair should not be an afterthought. Plan a wardrobe that aims to impress by selecting business casual or even business formal attire. Some ideas include: dress pants and shirts, suits, dresses, blazers, and jackets. Pick colors and patterns that show your personality but are also professional. Make sure what your wearing is comfortable too, as you'll be walking around the RAC. Give yourself room to breathe by not wearing something too form fitting, and comfortable footwear should be considered too.

• Have Your Resume Ready.  List your contact information, accomplishments, skills, and experience. Need a little help with your resume? No problem! We have some tips and samples here, as well as hold live drop-in hours at the Center. Once your resume is good to go, be sure to print out around 15-20 copies and keep them in a folder or padfolio for you to carry around, and bring them with you to the fair. You may also want to bring pens, extra paper, and a place to hold onto business cards.
  
  
• Perfect Your Pitch. So you've done your research, you look professional, and you have your resumes on hand. Now it's time to know what you're going to say to employers once you walk up to their booths. This is where your 30-second commercial, or elevator pitch comes in. For your pitch, you should let employers know who you are, highlight a few accomplishments, and how you'd bring value to their organization. You can practice your pitch using Big Interview, where you can practice answering the "Tell me about yourself" prompt.

By taking these tips and recommendations into consideration, you should have everything you need to make the most out of the Spring Career & Internship Fair. Best of luck out there, and we'll see you at the Career Fair soon! 

BEYA STEM Career Fair (FREE --Both In-Person or Virtual)

Friday, February 16, 2024

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Open to ALL Students (undergraduate and graduate)

Jobs--full-time, part-time, internships and graduate admissions

This event is sponsored by Career Communications Group (CCG) and is part of their large annual conference, which will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center. Representatives from major corporations and universities will be available to meet with students pursuing careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields as well as Business, Finance, and Marketing. Why should you participate?

•       FREE Career Fair (in-person & virtual options)
•       Career seminar Options
•       On the spot job offers
•       Networking with recruiters
•       Learn and network with the country's best and brightest STEM minds

Registration is required. Your registration will give you access to the in-person and online Career Fairs. The UMBC Career Center will provide a free shuttle bus to the Career Fair on Friday. If you would like to take the free shuttle bus, you must register with both BEYA and the UMBC Career Center by Tuesday, February 13.

•      To register, please follow the instructions at: https://careers.umbc.edu/beya 

Please be sure to upload your resume at the time of registration.

 Contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) at the UMBC Career Center for additional information

The 2023 Women of Color (WOC) STEM DTX conference, hosted by Career Communications Group, Inc., is taking place October 12-14, 2023 with options to participate either in-person or online. The conference features leadership and professional development programs in addition to a career fair where many top national and local companies in the STEM fields are actively recruiting STEM interns and professionals.

You will need to register to participate. Open to ALL students! You can register to participate until the day of the event. However, it will take about 15-30 minutes for registrations to be activated and to gain access to the platform.

·       The job fair is free! To participate in the online job fair only, go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/womenofcolor/2023/job_seekers_registration.cfm

·       To participate in the full conference (in addition to the career fair) go to:  https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/womenofcolor/2023/student_registration.cfm and select whether you will participate “in-person” (Detroit, MI) or “online”

·       The fee for attending the full online conference is $50. 

·     If you are interested in attending in-person and have not already notified the Career Center, please register on the WOC website (link above). You will be responsible for the hotel, airfare, and the $100 conference registration fee. 

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) from the UMBC Career Center.

The 2022 Women of Color (WOC) STEM DTX conference, hosted by Career Communications Group, Inc., is taking place October 6-8, 2022 with options to participate either in-person or online. The conference features leadership and professional development programs in addition to a career fair where many top national and local companies in the STEM fields are actively recruiting STEM interns and professionals.

You will need to register to participate. Open to ALL students! You can register to participate until the day of the event. However, it will take about 15-30 minutes for registrations to be activated and to gain access to the platform.

·       The job fair is free! To participate in the online job fair only, go to: https://2022wocdtx.vfairs.com/.

·       To participate in the full conference (in addition to the career fair) go to:  https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/womenofcolor/2022/student_registration.cfm and select whether you will participate “in-person” (Detroit, MI) or “online”. 

·       The fee for attending the full online conference is $50.

Please be sure to upload your resume to the V-fairs platform in advance. View participating employers here. 

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) from the UMBC Career Center.

BEYA STEM Virtual Career Fair and Conference
Thursday, February 17– Saturday, February, 19, 2022

BEYA STEM Virtual Career Fair (FREE) - Friday, February 18 and Saturday, February 19, 2022

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Open to ALL Students (undergraduate and graduate)

Jobs--full-time, part-time, internships and graduate admissions

This event is sponsored by Career Communications Group (CCG) and is part of their large annual conference. Representatives from several major corporations and universities will be available to meet virtually with students pursuing careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields as well as Business, Finance, and Marketing. Be sure to check the list of participating employers.

Why should you participate?

·       FREE Virtual Career Fair

·       Seminar Options

·       On the spot job offers

·       Networking with recruiters

·       Job readiness certification for college students

Registration is required. You can register up until the day of the event.  However it will take about 15-30 minutes for registrations to be activated and to gain access to the platform.

·       The Career Fair on Friday and Saturday is free! To participate in the Career Fair only, register as a “Job Seeker”.

·       The fee for attending the full conference is only $50 when you use the promotion code PCABZK4. To participate in the full conference (in addition to the career fair), register as a “Student”.

·      To register, please follow the instructions at: https://careers2.umbc.edu/calendar/fairs/beya2022.php

Please be sure to upload your resume to the V-fairs platform in advance.

Contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) of the UMBC Career Center for additional information.

Each Friday during Career Month, the Career Center is sponsoring Virtual Recruitment Events for a different industry. This week’s event is focusing on Advocacy, Social Services, Education, Law & Policy.

Friday, April 16, 2021 - 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.              

You will have a chance to meet with top employers to discuss internships, career and employment opportunities and explore their career options. There will be social science opportunities for students of all levels-from first-year students to graduate students.

 Our employers love UMBC students and they return to UMBC again and again in search of top candidates!

But, some students find that a virtual recruitment event can be very hectic and intimidating. You may even have to wait in a virtual que before you can speak with the employer of your choice. So, it is very important that you are prepared for this important event and that you have a positive attitude while participating.

Below are some tips on how you can prepare for a virtual recruitment event.

1. Keep focused on the camera so that you appear to make eye contact with your interviewer.
2. Dress for an in-person interview (no casual clothes).
3. Test it out! Make a practice call to a friend prior to the interview to make sure that your audio/video are clear. Be sure to find a spot with the strongest connection (and clean backdrop).
4. Make sure your background surroundings are neutral, professional, and distraction-free to ensure that your interviewer will be able to clearly see and hear you. Find a spot with good lighting and minimal glare.
5. Limit distractions.
6. Pay attention to your posture and body language. Use your facial expressions to show you are engaged and listening.
7. Close other programs on your computer.
8. Next to your computer, arrange notes outlining your relevant skill sets, along with examples using those skills that match the position requirements as well as your résumé and job description, but refer to them as little as possible. You don’t want to seem like you are reading. Consider highlighting keywords or phrases you want to be sure to use.
9. Research the organization’s website prior to the interview, taking note of their mission, values, and current information.  Using the link above, you will find the list of employers.
10. Keep track of your time, so you’ll need to be able to see a clock.
11. Prepare thoughtful questions beforehand.
12. As with any interview – be sure to follow up!
13. Use a great 30-second commercial. The commercial should identify who you are, highlight a few accomplishments and strengths, show how you can add value to the company, and be concise. Use your pitch to start a conversation with employers. Practice with friends in advance!  
14. Ask the employer good, thoughtful questions.
15. Take notes and do what you say you will do.

You may be thinking, “LinkedIn, I know all about it!” Creating your profile is, of course, the first step in building your online professional presence. You want to develop a profile that captures your background and experiences effectively so that you stand out.  However, LinkedIn extends far beyond your profile!

LinkedIn can be used to:

Build your Network:

·      It allows you to build and maintain connections. For example, you had a virtual chat with a recruiter at a networking event. Your next step should be to connect with that recruiter via LinkedIn by sending a personalized message.  Your message should refer to the event where you met.

Learn from and Engage with Alumni:

·      Use the Alumni Tool to search alumni by what they studied, where they work, etc. This can help you identify potential career paths.

·      If someone has a path you would like to learn more about, invite them to connect by sending a personalized message. You can then request an informational interview to gain valuable insight into the career path of interest. 

Search and Apply to Positions:

·      Use the LinkedIn job portal to find internships and full-time positions.

·      Set your job seeking preference in your profile settings.

·      Follow companies of interest so that you are updated on the latest news regarding that organization.

LinkedIn also provides some resources for students on how to use the site.

Questions? Schedule an appointment with a Career Center advisor to discuss how to effectively use your LinkedIn account and get your profile reviewed.

Looking for internship or research opportunities? Want to learn more about a career field or industry? Learning how to network can yield great results, even in the virtual world!

What is networking?

Simply put, the process of making personal and professional connections and building those relationships over time in order to either (1) advance your career knowledge or (2) help you find opportunities related to areas of interest.

When and where should I network?

Networking can occur at any time anywhere -- family gatherings, doctor appointments, conversations with other students at social events, academic department gatherings, or even in the grocery check-out line. The best place to start is by connecting with people you already know. Your network already includes family, friends, neighbors, UMBC faculty and staff, and colleagues.

Can I network now? In a pandemic?? 

Yes!  You can reach out to anyone you know – virtually! 

Although we are in a virtual world, UMBC students also have many opportunities to interact with faculty, staff, alumni, and employers. The Career Center hosts a wide variety of virtual events throughout the academic year ranging from intimate, industry-specific employer panels to large career fairs. See our calendar of events.

How do I start?

The easiest way to begin is with a brief email explaining your motivation for reaching out.  Be sure to attach your resume. To structure the conversation, you can follow the Informational Interview guide – which will help you with questions to consider asking.

Join a student organization to build your network!

Here at UMBC there is wide variety of student organizations!  Whether it is cultural organization, a student group, a living learning community—those bonds begin now and continue long after you graduate. Explore the many affinity groups and clubs of interest.

TIP OF THE DAY:

“Networking can open many doors for students by providing opportunities to gain information, useful skills, and perhaps even your next position… but it can be challenging for those of us with more introverted personalities. The simplest way to start things off, either in person or via email is with a question. The question could be about what their job is, the talk or lecture they just gave, or other interesting item you’d like to know about.”  Cesar E. Perez-Gonzalez, Ph.D., Training Director, NIH, National Eye Institute

READ/WATCH THIS:

• Article: Tips for Successful Networking
• Video: Micro Session: Perfect Your Pitch (10 minutes)

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

Now that you know the many benefits of building a robust network, consider one of the following next steps:

• Join at least one UMBC student organization of your choice to start building connections with those who share similar interests.
• Identify someone in your network and craft an email, requesting an informational interview.
• Craft a 30-second commercial to use for your next informal encounter!

Get the scoop on exciting internship opportunities! Follow the Career Center on Twitter, where we’ll be highlighting amazing internships across a variety of industries all week!