Hello Retrievers and Welcome to 2023! We hope that the New Year is off to a great start for each of you. Whether you are participating in Winter Session classes or getting ready for the upcoming Spring Semester, this is an optimal time to begin thinking about opportunities that can help you build skills, gain experience in your field of study, and help you to navigate your career path. One great way to bring all of these elements together is through an internship. Many companies are posting internships now for Summer or Fall 2023, so this is a great moment to start your internship journey!

You may be asking, what exactly is an internship? It is a professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work related to a student's field of study or career interest. It benefits both the student and the employer by supporting the students' career development while the employer gains new ideas, fresh energy, and the new employee potential that an intern can bring to their site.

Internships provide an array of benefits for students including opportunities to:

• Network in an industry of interest - Make valuable career connections in the form of professional references, connections to future job opportunities, or possible mentors or career guides for your career journey.
• Gain work experience - An internship will allow you to add real world work experience to your resume. Even if ultimately you decide to pursue a different occupation or industry from that of your internship, all experience is valuable and shows future employers your impact. You will also experience a professional environment which can help you to understand where you may thrive, i.e. a traditional office vs. working outdoors, as well as to develop important skills in interacting with a supervisor, learning company culture, and collaborating on group projects.
• Develop transferrable skills - Building on the previous point, skills developed at any internship are transferrable across positions and industries, especially career readiness skills such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. This will also help boost your confidence in the workplace and in your future job search. These skills learned on the job can also be immediately applied in your academic course work through strengthening your leadership in group projects, enhancing communications with peers and professors, and shaping your academic course trajectory to develop skills relevant for a desired industry.
• Earn transcript recognition or academic credit - Career Center courses, such as the Intern Success Practicum or PRAC 102 for On-Campus jobs, provide a zero-credit, transcript notation highlighting your commitment to the career development process. These courses also provide important reflection opportunities to help you identify and articulate the transferrable skills you are learning.  You may also be able to earn upper-level academic credit for your experience via a course in your academic department. Many departments require the Intern Success Practicum as a co-requisite for earning internship/research credit, so contact the Career Center as well as a faculty member in your department for more information.
• Learn career likes and dislikes - Given the short term nature of an internship, it allows you to learn about a job, company, and industry before committing. This is an opportunity to not only learn about the position, but also about yourself - your preferences, skills, abilities, values and personality. These insights provide valuable information that can help align your educational and experiential choices with a career path that is going to be the right fit for you.
• Jumpstart your career - The statistics are impressive: according to What to Become, 50% of companies convert internships into full time positions, increasing the possibility that a company where you interned will hire you after graduation since they know you are a fast learner and an asset to the company. Regardless, completing an internship at any company increases job offers by 16% for all the reasons outlined above.

Want to get started with your internship search? Here are a few ideas:

• Get your resume reviewed during Winter Drop-In Hours
• Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor
• Search for opportunities directly in Handshake
• Attend the Spring 2023 Career and Internship Fair

The Career Center is back in business following Winter Break, so feel free to connect with us in-person on the 2nd floor of the Math and Psychology building, virtually via Handshake, or by contacting our Front Desk at 410-455-2216. Hope to see you soon!

Name: Olisa Okolo

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

Position Title: Data Analysis and Research Intern

Major or Program: Information Systems

Current Class Level: Senior

Work Term: Fall 2022

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities. 

I am using my skills in data analytics, python programming and data science to support one of the many missions of the NASA Jet propulsion Lab

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application? 

I heard about this position from UMBC faculty and my mentors Dr. Janeja and Dr. Karen Chen

Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience? 

Student Organizations/Scholar Groups, Faculty Connections

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?  

I enjoy the scale of the data that I work with and how much of a challenge it is. I have grown in numerous ways as a data scientist 

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I have supported the team in ensuring the usability of the data analysis models.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

Be very aggressive in curating your online image. Put yourself out there. 

Check out this post on our social media platforms!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram andLinkedIn 

#UMBCintern 

URCAD is returning to campus! 

URCAD is Wednesday, April 12, 2023. 10 – 4 p.m. 

Supporting Students Experiencing Mental Health Distress

GOT WINTER BREAK PLANS? Participate in an employer site visit through EACE’s 2023 Virtual Road Trips to the Real World!

Participate in EACE’s 2023 Virtual Road Trips to the Real World! Road Trips offers college students the opportunity to attend one-day employer virtual site visits between January 4 - 20, 2023. Host companies will talk about their organization, industry, internships, and job opportunities. This is your chance to get the inside scoop and virtually get your foot in the door at 18+ participating employers.

The registration deadline is the morning of the virtual visit date or one week before an in-person session. Register at eace.org/roadtrips

During each virtual site visit, you will get an in-depth look at how the company operates and see firsthand the potential internships and jobs that are available. You will also network with employers and get a head start on your career planning. This is an opportunity you do not want to miss!

WHO:     Students who are interested in exploring career opportunities. Open to any current undergraduate or graduate student attending a college or university that is a member of the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers (EACE).

WHAT:   An opportunity for students to learn first-hand about a career field, network with employers, and explore internship and job opportunities at 18 companies.

WHERE: Virtually: Connect from anywhere you have online access!

WHEN:   Registration is open from November 1 until the morning of a virtual visit date or one week before an in-person session. Site visits take place on one day between January 4 - 20, 2023. View the schedule and register at eace.org/roadtrips.

WHY:     It will help you to think about life after college and the career paths that are available. After all, it is never too early to start thinking about your career!

THIS YEAR'S SITES INCLUDE:

In-person:

Subaru of America, Inc., Camden, NJ

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ

Staples, Inc. (EACE Sponsor), Framingham, MA

Virtual:

·       USLI

·       Vanguard

·       Warner Brothers Discovery

·       The GIANT Company

·       JCDecaux North America

·       Protiviti

·       Amazon Web Services (AWS)

·       Fastenal

·       Green Chimney Children’s Services

·       BDO USA LLP

·       Ability Beyond (EACE Sponsor)

·       Alpha Omega Integration

·       Southcoast Health

City Year

The Road Trips virtual site visits cost $5.00 (plus EventBrite processing fee) per site and are non-refundable.