Now that spring break is behind us, it’s time to think of the next big thing: graduation.

Graduation comes with a lot of feelings, maybe even anxiety or dread. This could be the result of many things, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. The Career Center is here to support you with your next steps.

Did you know that your network is your net worth? What this means is that having an extensive network could be the key to shiny job prospects. But where do you even start?

Answer: alumni networks.

Here are a couple of suggestions for how you can tap into the alumni resource:

1. Retrievers Connect. This professional networking platform is just for UMBC students and alumni. Once you join, you’ll be able to speak to alumni directly through email and video chat, ask them about their experiences, and gain access to a broad network of professionals.  Alumni volunteers are ready and available to help students just like you.
2. LinkedIn. On the UMBC LinkedIn page, you’ll have access to 79,000+ alumni, right at your fingertips. You can conduct a search on your career field of interest to find professionals in that field that you can reach out to. You can also see where alumni are employed, as well as the skills they have in order to do their work. You could be just one DM away from finding an alumni contact to help you with your career.

The alumni network is a resource worth exploring. Not only do they have shared experiences with you as a UMBC student, but they’ve also “been there” when it comes to the job market and can provide useful insight. Don’t wait, reach out to an alum today.

Looking to network with alumni in real-time? Join the Career Month Industry Fair for Technology & Engineering and learn all about potential career paths in an informal setting on Wednesday, April 3^rd from 11 AM to 2 PM.