The job search can be an exciting time — but it can also feel discouraging when applications go unanswered or interviews don't lead to offers. In a competitive market, rejection is normal, but that doesn't make it easy. The good news? You can learn to navigate setbacks, stay motivated, and keep moving forward, with the help of these tips:

1. Reframe Rejection as Redirection

Remember: every "no" brings you closer to the right "yes." Instead of seeing rejection as failure, view it as feedback. Ask yourself what you can learn from the experience — maybe it's refining your resume, expanding your network, or exploring a different industry. Book a Search Strategies appointment with a Career Center Advisor to get even more ideas on how to improve.

2. Set Small, Achievable Goals

A long job search can feel endless, but there are ways to make it feel more manageable. Break the search down into steps you can accomplish each week, like updating one section of your resume, applying to three jobs, or reaching out to two networking contacts. Small wins can add up — and help you build momentum.

3. Lean on Your Support System

You don't have to go through this process alone. Share your pitfalls and wins with friends, mentors, or career advisors at the Career Center or beyond. They can offer encouragement, perspective, and even new job leads. The more you let others know that you're on the hunt, the more eyes there will be out there seeking viable opportunities. Maybe it would be helpful to meet with a friend outside of career events and apply for job positions together. It's ok to ask for help, accountability, and support.

4. Prioritize Self-Care

Stress can easily build up during a long search. Make time for activities that recharge you — whether that's exercise, hobbies, or simply taking a day off from applications. Maybe making a curated playlist while you submit applications can help you stay motivated, or maybe you need to engage in breathwork and affirmations before starting each day. A clear mind helps you stay confident and focused. 

5. Keep Building Skills While You Search

If you're waiting on responses, invest in your professional growth. Take an online course, volunteer for a nonprofit you're interested in, or start a personal project. Sign up for a micro-internship at Parker Dewey or a job simulation at The Forage. Check out offerings from the UMBC Training Centers and watch the Paws & Pivot Webinar Series. Adding new experiences and skills to your resume shows employers that you are staying active and adaptable.

Strategize Your Next Steps

Setbacks don't define your career — they guide it. For more ways to stay resilient and turn challenges into opportunities, join us at our online workshop, Mindset & Momentum: Staying Resilient in the Job Hunt, at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, September 30. This supportive session will share practical strategies to help you stay motivated and keep your search moving forward.

 More Career Opportunities Await! 

UMBC hosted our Career & Internship Fair on September 17, but we know that one event can't capture every opportunity. To give our Retrievers even more chances to connect with employers and explore next steps, we're excited to promote two upcoming partner fairs hosted by nearby universities:

 Towson University Career & Internship Fair

• Date: Friday, September 26

• Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Location: SECU Arena, Towson University

• A wide range of employers will be in attendance—don't miss your chance to network and explore career opportunities!

 Goucher College Graduate School Fair

• Date: Tuesday, October 7

• Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Location: Goucher College Library, Towson, MD

• Explore graduate school programs in the Baltimore area that can help you launch your career. Walk-ins welcome!

• Register here: https://gradprograms.goucher.edu/portal/events-web

UMBC is proud to be a collegial partner in our university community and to support your success—whether it's finding your next job, internship, or graduate program. Take advantage of these great opportunities!

Note: UMBC will not provide transportation to these events.

Name: Nardos Araya

Pronouns: she/her

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025

Major: Information Systems

Current Class Level: Senior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Morgan Stanley

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: Operations Analyst Intern

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

I interned at Morgan Stanley in the Baltimore office as an Operations Analyst Intern. During this internship, I worked alongside the Global Reconciliation Services team and was a team lead for a group project involving automating manual processes using various automation tools like Alteryx and Power BI. I also worked on documenting business requirements and reengineering business processes through automation and process-mapping.

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

I heard about this internship around the end of summer of 2024 and obtained this internship by first, making an appointment with the career center to help review and tailor my resume to the internship's job description. I also networked with full-time employees at Morgan Stanley that were previous interns and asked them how I can stand out in my application and my interview. After preparing my application, I submitted my application within 2 weeks.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Networking events (UMBC Connects, Info Sessions, Arts With a Purpose, etc.), Alumni Networking, Student Organizations/Scholar Groups, LinkedIn or other social media

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

What I enjoyed most about interning at Morgan Stanley was learning alongside experienced professionals that I looked up to and receiving guidance from them on familiarizing myself with a corporate environment. Getting to know other interns from different schools and backgrounds was also a great opportunity that I appreciated the most because those connections I built are always going to be helpful for my future as I grow professionally. Additionally, getting to use skills that I learned in the classroom in a real-world environment where I'm given a project and I have the opportunity to create impact for the organization was very rewarding!

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

The automation project that I led was for a daily manual process that usually took 1008 hours to complete annually. By automating the daily manual process, I saved the company 750+ hours annually and eliminated manual error completely. The company can now spend more time on more crucial tasks at hand.

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

Advice I would give to another student seeking an internship would be to reach out alumni that works at the company and has the role that you're interested in and have them look at your resume and overall application. I would also suggest to network with students who just recently interned in your company of interest because their insights would be fresh in terms of what skills the company looks for, interview tips, etc.

The deadline to register for hackUMBC is Friday, September 26, 2025, at 9PM EST Make sure to sign up before then!

We'll be posting updates on our Instagram and social media about what to expect on the day of the event and important details on where to go. Keep an eye out for these updates and don't wait too long—only one week left to register!

(P.S. checkout the hackUMBC Instagram for new post about the schedule, partners, and events @hackumbc)

We are excited to offer an exclusive opportunity for students at UMBC to apply for Under Armour summer internship positions, before they are made available to the public. This early application window will be open from September 17th to September 28th. Students that apply during this will receive priority review and consideration.

Available Internships - VIEW AND APPLY ON HANDSHAKE HERE

Current Juniors - Want to Visit Under Armour's Headquarter Campus? Do you think you may be a good fit for an opportunity at Under Armour? UMBC secured very exclusive access for a bus trip to Under Armour Headquarters on Friday October 3, 2025. *Limited spots.  You must sign up HERE to go to the Under On The Road.

AI/Advanced Analytics - https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162833&company=ua&st=5DA8313396791D03D626800092B9C0EC49B9B7BE

Community Impact: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162898&company=ua&st=5A40B5306A54D46920CD6BA310FD7E7CD4192C29

Consumer Insights: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162895&company=ua&st=ABD82EEFA00CF895D7A982BAE623282729F4147A

Curry: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162827&company=ua&st=B34B5B238F730C07D3B99EA3A373ABDF9E042A22

Cybersecurity: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162819&company=ua&st=FD026A38AF1E7261F8AC2A6BFFD0B448D8958886

Design: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162825&company=ua&st=45D7F70A0FD81539DFA002D3A1E6B869A9535347

Digital Teammate Experience: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162822&company=ua&st=E61BEE61BC35F050345B43AAE8C63C7B253AE749

Engineering: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162820&company=ua&st=343FD1ABE840505400E676588F3C167E58B2A96A

Enterprise Data Management:  https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162821&company=ua&st=86AB9E2662DD3381060098DAF58E7A3502701305

Finance and Accounting: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162813&company=ua&st=EC1F8936249A31D97257F1902C03C6C7D36CBA65

Human Resources: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162823&company=ua&st=5FE1F3F58D8BFF6BAEEDDD303E1F291ECAB7F482

Marketing and Communications: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162817&company=ua&st=0E52B4BC4739D86F27ED3A74FEDACA99213DF630

Merchandising: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162829&company=ua&st=DDF8C1C5713CFC32D272F79D45514B34124F7C54

Next Up: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162824&company=ua&st=887B7142F4E7E834E2CD0A538B35527879D5EC40

Procurement: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162815&company=ua&st=335A882618711A17C4017132DC9F967007F80813

Product Development: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162826&company=ua&st=6356260F912D881EDB7BCBCCF991FA53FE462D79

Product Line Management: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162828&company=ua&st=DD7F2F9C80BC4BEAC9C1D8CC3AD10E248C2C9CA8

Retail and Store Operations: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162831&company=ua&st=C700C484070DEA000C0E7AC2BBDE3D22622ED7A4

Strategy: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162818&company=ua&st=B54BA3B7609370BA9A42B41F52DC25141C3C49E9

Supply Chain and Planning: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162816&company=ua&st=F3BD08FE4542BFB6A7A4087DA84C184F735F8BBB

Team Sports/Sales: https://career8.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=162896&company=ua&st=F1BCB26B310A2B7E76CCD7F5B4579EAEAA481A50