Making the Most of Career Month 2018

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:46:45 -0400
blog, careercenter, careermonth, careers, events, prizes, workshops

Spring break is long gone, my friends. Trust that I am just as disappointed as you are. But, there is so much going on in April that we don’t even have time to dwell on it! April is Career Month, a magical time where EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH has at least one panel, workshop, or networking event that will fully stock your professional toolbelt with all the resources and connections you could possibly ask for! Not only that, but if you participate in the Career Month Road Trip Challenge, you can collect challenge buttons for a chance to win two free plane tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, courtesy of Southwest Airlines! HOW COOL IS THAT??? Here are a few highlighted events:

On April 9th at free hour in the Commons, the Career Center is hosting a Financial Literacy Workshop. Everybody has something to learn about finances, right? In this helpful workshop, led by UMBC alum Ken Pittman, let us show you how to quantify your financial situation, deal with debt and develop a savings plan that will help to prepare you for those retirement years! What are your finances saying about you?

An ongoing event will be the Interview and Alum series, which is happening from April 9th to 13th. During this week, you can sign up to have an informational interview with UMBC alumni currently working in your desired field. This gives you a chance to get some one-on-one advice from someone who was once in your shoes and is now succeeding in the workforce!

My personal favorite is the Dining Etiquette Dinner on April 19th in the Skylight Room. Why is this my favorite? FREE DINNER, OF COURSE!! But in addition to that, you learn how to present yourself professionally while eating, which is a skill you might need if your next interview is over lunch! This event does require pre-registration, so sign up here.

You may be saying to yourself, “Gosh, there is so much happening this month, how do I make the best of it??” Well, I’ll give you some tips on how to take advantage of all these wonderful resources:

1. Look at the calendar now! The last thing you want is to hear about an event after it already happened, so scope out the events this month that interest you the most, and make sure you’re prepared.

2. Get your resume polished! A lot of these events have recruiters actively looking for eager college students, so make an appointment or come to drop-in hours every weekday from 2pm-4pm and ensure that your resume is in tip-top shape.

3. Collect those challenge buttons! These events are rewarding all on their own, but if you remember to collect the challenge buttons offered at each event and turn them in, you could win some BIG PRIZES! So don’t miss out!

This month is a big deal, so make sure you’re prepared to achieve your full potential and take advantage of everything the Career Center has to offer. Go Retrievers!