Where did the year go, guys? The sun is shining, but everyone is stressed with finals and projects and summer jobs and graduation … it’s a lot. I get it; I am right there with you. And if you’re graduating in a few weeks, that is a whole other level of stress! This can be a pretty crazy time of year, but we can all put our summertime to good use by taking the time to think about our own professional development and create goals for ourselves for the upcoming school year - or if you’re graduating, whatever your next step is!
If you already have a summer job, internship, or research experience - congratulations! If you want to take your summer experience to the next step, be sure to register for the Intern Success Practicum, a zero-credit pass/fail course that puts your experience on your transcript to give it more of an official, professional look. You can register on your UMBCworks account, or make an appointment at the Career Center to have a staff member help you register. It can only help you!
If you don’t have anything lined up for the summer yet, you are certainly not alone. You can still make an appointment to help with the job search, or just look through the 400+ summer job/internship postings that are on UMBCworks RIGHT NOW! There are plenty of opportunities; you just have to find them! Taking summer classes can also be a valuable use of time, and might even help you graduate early. Even volunteer positions at your local non-profit can be great skill-builders and resume boosters, so don’t despair if you’ve yet to find a summer position!
No matter what your situation or year in school, here is a Summer To-Do List:
Update your resume - make sure everything is up-to-date and spelled correctly. If you don’t want to come in for an appointment, our Resume Resource Page has plenty of information.
Critically think about your career path - even if you have decided your major and are confident in your career paths, there is a lot to be gained from continuously evaluating your goals and exploring all of your options. Who knows what you will find! Check out our resources for Discovering Your Options. You can also register for our Dependable Strengths Workshop on June 1st - a free full-day program that will build your confidence and help you take action toward career success.
Set some goals for yourself - are you bad at making decisions? Feel like you have some things you can improve on? Take some time to read about Decision Making and Goal Setting and think about what you want to get out of the next school year.
Graduating? We are still here! - If you are graduating soon, the Career Center’s resources are still available to you. See the attached flyer to learn more.
Even though the semester is closing up, we still have events! Stop by Commons Mainstreet on May 10th from 11:30-2pm to have your photo taken for #hearmebark and tell us what your next step is after graduation! Also, this year is the first year that UMBC is hosting the Maryland Career Consortium (MCC) Career Fair, with 100+ recruiters looking to hire students and alumni! And in case you didn’t know, the Career Center is still open during the summer session, so feel free to make an appointment! We are always here to help.
Abraar is a Biological Sciences major who will graduate in May 2018.
How did you find the research opportunity? I became extremely interested in the topic of regenerative medicine after having taken Molecular Biology and Genetics. I decided to check out the different research labs available on campus and found that Dr. Lobo’s lab very closely fit my interests. From there I decided to contact and meet with Dr. Lobo, to discuss any opportunities available to work in his lab, and luckily enough I was granted a position in the lab.
Do you get course credit for this work? Paid? How much time do you put into it? This semester, I am fortunate enough to be receiving credit for my work. That said, I currently put in about 10-12 hours a week in the lab.
What academic background did you have before you started? Honestly, not much. I began working in Dr. Lobo’s lab in the summer after Sophomore year, at which point the only upper level biology course I had under my belt was Genetics. Fortunately, I was still able to attain the position, and as a result have learned an extensive amount of knowledge in my area of interest.
How did you learn what you needed to know to be successful in this project? I would say the biggest thing was having the help of my PI, Dr. Lobo, as well as my fellow research colleagues. I had to learn a good bit of knowledge with how things worked with the software used in the lab, but I always knew that I could go to Dr. Lobo for whatever questions I had. One thing that I really like about my PI, Dr. Lobo, is he holds weekly one on one meetings, where I can ask him any questions or concerns with any of the research tasks. From my experience, Dr. Lobo certainly does an exceptional job of making sure that his researchers are comfortable with their respective projects.
What was the hardest part about your research? The hardest part about my research was most certainly the fact that the lab was a bioinformatics lab. I had little to no experience with coding, so I was limited in what I could do in the lab. That said, I had to learn a lot about the software, Planform, before being able to do any work in the lab. Fortunately, I was able to catch on quick and help out the best I could. Luckily enough, I am able to work on the current project with a fellow colleague of mine, Junaid, making the whole learning process that much easier. Currently, I am excited about working with a new type of software, called Plangex, that the lab is near finished in completing.
What was the most unexpected thing? The most unexpected thing was the level at which I was able to interact and work with my PI, Dr. Lobo. I had always heard from my friends, who worked in other labs, how they wouldn’t get to work with their PI’s directly, but rather work with graduate students. That fact that I could directly go to my mentor, Dr. Lobo, and get help or advice so easily, was certainly a blessing. I think its agreeable amongst all the researchers in the lab that Dr. Lobo is the best mentor that we could have ever asked for.
How does this research experience relate to your work in other classes? My research in the lab closely relates to the topics of regenerative medicine and stem cells, topics that constantly appears time after time in upper level biology classes. Having conducted research on the matter, I have been able to develop a firm grasp of the topics, making the subject matter a breeze in class. Additionally, my research has required me to read a vast amount of academic literature. This, in turn, has taught the very important skill of being detail oriented. A skill that has proven to be invaluable in all my classes.
What is your advice to other students about getting involved in research? Don’t be afraid to get out there and get involved early on!! I remember when I initially started looking for research in my field interest, I was afraid of being rejected. Looking back, I see how unwise it was to think that way. Just because a PI may not have a spot for you in their lab doesn’t mean you should stop searching. If you really want to get involved in a specific area of study, you should stay proactive. No doubt, working in the lab has taught me skills that I wouldn’t have learned elsewhere. I couldn’t be happier that I decided to contact Dr. Lobo and move forward with research in his lab.
What are your career goals? I aspire to go to medical school, and hopefully help out as many people as possible in the future. If given the chance to do so, I hope to continue researching regenerative medicine down the road after earning a medical degree.
Students enrolled in information security, computer science, and information technology degree programs can talk with representatives from a range of IT and cybersecurity businesses and industries that have job openings. Students as well as recent graduates, resumes in hand, come ready to speak with potential employers. Faculty attending 3CS may also observe the pre-summit job fair in order to understand what jobs are available and the skills required for the multitude of positions. Although 2017 was the first year of this tailored job fair, students are still raving about it... “The job fair was a very good experience. While there were a couple positions that I was not interested in (though others obviously were), most of the companies were great.” “In fact, after having submitted my resume to one company, a manager approached me towards the end of the job fair. Now, I have another trip to DC planned for next week in order to get interviewed by them. Overall, the job fair was an amazing experience, and I'd love to support future events in any way I can." As demand continues to grow for qualified cybersecurity employees, 3CS continues to educate the educators and decision-makers at community colleges about cybersecurity education. The fifth annual 3CS is scheduled for Aug. 2 to 4, in Gresham and Portland, Oregon. This year’s theme is “Expanding Expertise – Transforming Cybersecurity Programs”. Four tracks include: 1) New to cybersecurity 2) Experienced in cybersecurity and CAE-CD aspirants 3) Cybersecurity across the curriculum 4) Student track
The STUDENT TRACK is helpful for those who attended the job fair as it includes information on student competitions, associations, summer camps, and more!
To register and learn more about the Pre-Summit Job Fair go HERE. |
Student travel stipend information to attend 3CS Pre-Summit Job Fair
All students enrolled in cybersecurity programs and certificate programs can apply to receive financial support to cover their job fair and 3CS registration, travel costs, lodging, and per diem stipend, based on the distance from their home to Mt. Hood Community College, as described below: Local Students (living within 60 miles of Mt. Hood) – qualify for the coverage of their registration ($25) and reimbursement of round-trip travel at the rate of 54.5 cents per mile. Regional Students (living between 60 and 175 miles from Mr. Hood) – qualify for the coverage of their registration ($25), reimbursement of round-trip travel at the rate of 54.5 cents per mile, one (1) night’s lodging ($209 - room must be shared by 2 students), and a stipend of $138. National Students (living over 175 miles from Mt. Hood) – qualify for the coverage of their registration ($25), reimbursement for transportation (airplane/bus/train) or mileage reimbursement not to exceed $500, two (2) nights lodging ($209 - room must be shared by 2 students), and a stipend of $138 to cover other trip incidentals. To be considered for financial travel support, the online request form must be filled out and submitted by midnight, May 25. Recipients will be notified of travel awards by June 8. Go HERE to fill out travel stipend application. REGISTER with this link: |
We just obtained a great opportunity for an upcoming May or recent graduate at VALIC in
Linthicum, MD. The Enrollment Specialist position will allow you to
work alongside financial advisors as you work with teachers and staff in
the K-12 educational system. Full position details can be found
below. If you are interested, apply to position 9298981 in UMBCworks ASAP.
Excel with VALIC
With the combined strength and diverse products of AIG member companies
and VALIC powering your efforts, you can provide a uniquely high level
of personalized retirement and financial planning— and make a real
difference in the lives of those who deserve your help.
Our Enrollment Specialists have the opportunity to assist existing &
potential clients with employer-sponsored retirement plan enrollments
including:
• Prepare and help clients complete contracts & related product materials during the enrollment process
• Educate potential clients on product focus
• Participate in firm or client sponsored events & deliver on-site education of the client’s employer-sponsored plan
• Partner with a Senior Financial Advisor within assigned territory
when client requires planning advice on investments outside employer
sponsored-plan or to consolidate assets
• Adhere to the highest compliance standards
What We Provide:
• Existing employer relationships with current retirement plan participants to contact
• Marketing support including mailings, email blasts and customized flyers
• Company-provided technology, including equipment, helpdesk assistance, client management and financial planning tools
• Pay for performance compensation schedule
• Competitive benefits package with immediate access to medical, dental, vision, life and 401K with match
• Educational support toward certification(s), license(s) and career development
• Ongoing coaching and mentoring by a Senior Financial Advisor
What You Need:
• Self-motivated with a strong drive to succeed
• Ability to obtain FINRA Series 7 and 66 or 6 and 63 license(s) with VALIC sponsorship
• Ability to obtain active state variable life and health license with VALIC sponsorship
• Ability to quickly earn trust and build lasting relationships
• Eagerness to learn the financial services industry and be mentored by a Senior Financial Advisor
• College graduate with demonstrated success in GPA and extra-curricular activities welcome to apply
VALIC Overview
The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company ("VALIC") and VALIC
Financial Advisors, Inc., subsidiaries of AIG, is an insurance,
retirement and financial planning company that services clients in the
not for profit, as well as the for-profit sectors. We are best known for
the work that we do in the 403(b) space where our Advisors partner with
clients that work in public school districts, universities and
hospitals. Additionally, we also work with clients in governmental
offices and, because of the vast product and services that we offer, we
also have clients in the private sector. VALIC is a national company
that is headquartered in Houston, TX. We have 48 district offices across
the country with just under 1,500 financial advisors. VALIC’s roots
date back to 1955. In 1964, we implemented the very first 403b plan in a
public school district. We regularly rank in the “top 3” against our
direct competitors and in the K-12 market.