Spring break is approaching, but I am not kidding, when I am saying it’s been quite busy last couple of weeks. I will be graduating after fall semester and I want to do an internship. USG career and internship center(CISC)  had helped me immensely to prepare my resume. They also, help me with my cover letters, when I was applying for various internships. I also took ‘LinkedIn’ workshop last semester, where I was able to learn about how to setup your professional portfolio in social media. All of this preparation helped me to attend various networking event. If you are a University of Maryland College Park(UMCP) student and attending Universities at ShadyGrove (USG), you have an advantage of attending events that are held at main campus as well. A part of getting internship, to sign up for internship online course , which will enable an intern to get college credits.

UMCP have various programs at their career center for Undergrad students that would help students transition from college to work environment. For getting an internship experience I started with their ‘intern for a day’ program. The program helps students who never had a prior work in experience to get internship for one day in their perspective fields, with participating employers. Students can get a day experience, learn how it is to work in the industry of their choice. It also builds confidence and helps network, when you approach for an internship. The USG  campus CISC provides opportunities  for students to prepare for future job interviews  through their ‘big interview’ section on their website, where students are able to learn and practice their interview skills, weather they are interviewing for their job or internship. Upon registering, students can find out exactly what interviewers are looking for and learn how to anticipate and properly answer the toughest questions. Once the answers are planned and refined, students can use the practice tool to make their delivery confident and natural. The website has a built-in feedback tool to get objective analysis on the progress and mentors, professors, coaches, or friends.

While attending one of the networking events, organized by CISC, I got few offers to shadow from some of the professionals I met. Exited and intimidated by the idea of ‘shadowing’ I asked many of my peers, if they have done it before, but did not have any luck finding someone with  experience. Upon mentioning it at career center I found out that they started a new ‘virtual job shadow’ program, in which students can go and see how to shadow an industry professional. USG career and internship center also holds many events, which help students network with perspective employers.

To look for future internships opportunities there are many websites  like Indeed, Glassdoor and Linkedin, that can help students find internships and job opportunities. I have to admit that once I looked at all of them, it was overwhelming to make accounts and learn how to navigate through website all at once. The CISC has ‘career connector’ for this propose, as it enables students to find various job  and internship opportunities, on campus and off side.

Finding internships or jobs can be an intimidating process. As much as approaching graduation date can bring us joy, it can also set us with anxiety of finding our dream internship or job. USG is helping many students like me to find internships/jobs that are the right fit for them .I took advantage of many opportunities that USG and UMCP has to offer. For experience s that I had during networking and interviews? is another blog for another time! Maybe next time!

For now its spring break! Have a good break everyone!