Interview Basics for Graduating Seniors

Posted on March 28, 2017 by USG

In my current position, I lead recruitment efforts for my office. As anyone can assume, there are good candidates and there are bad candidates out there. How do you make sure you are one of the good ones?

  • Do your homework. Treat a job interview like a test. There are key things you should know before you step in an interview.
    • Resume – This is the portrait of you that most questions will be based off of. Know it well and bring a copy with you for yourself and the interviewers.
    • Job description – Companies want to know that you know what you’re applying for and the main responsibilities you will have in the position
    • Company background – In addition to getting a basic idea of what the company does, go the extra mile and learn something interesting about the company (i.e. read an article recently published about them).
  • Dress to impress. You can never be overdressed for a job interview, but you can be underdressed. Even if you know the office environment is business casual, dress up and show the company you mean business.
  • Arrive a few minutes early. The easiest way to impress a company, or avoid a bad first impression, is to get to your interview on time

These are just a few basic tips that will score you big points. You’ll need to find a job to apply to first, right? LinkedIn is a good place for job searching. After you find the job, the recruiter might try to find more information about you via LinkedIn (LinkedIn again?!). USG is here to help you!

The workshop below will teach you how to navigate LinkedIn effectively. You can also get your headshot taken!

What? LinkedIn Lab 

When? Wednesday, April 5

Where? Building III 12pm-5:30pm

It is always a good time to make yourself look good…but now you can raise the bar during the job hunting season!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Spring

Posted on March 27, 2017 by ernieg

What did you do during your time off?

I came to school and got ahead of my school work. I also, worked more hours at my job which I love but I kept busy because I wanted to make sure I was setting myself up for success. I didn’t want to let myself get lazy in the middle of the school semester. I know myself and if I got lazy it would be hard for me to get back on track. I mostly came to school and started working on projects that were going to be due when we got back to school. I have a work hard, play hard mindset and I don’t think I worked hard enough yet. I focused more getting ahead and school work so I had a relaxing time off. I slept in more and went to the gym for about 2 hours. I kept everything simple and easy. Some people say my time off was boring but I feel that I have more energy now to focus more on what matters to me (business).  I think that to each is own and if you did something else share it with me. I need to learn more about things that Maryland has to offer. So please share post your ideas.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

When Language Meets Medicine

Posted on March 25, 2017 by USG

Of all my wonderful experiences in pharmacy school thus far, I would have to say that my involvement with the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) OTC Medicine Safety committee has been my favorite. OTC Medicine Safety is a national campaign that aims to educate 5th and 6th graders, as well as their parents and caregivers, about the safe use and storage of over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

As an active member of the University of Maryland APhA-ASP chapter’s OTC Medicine Safety committee (whew, what a mouthful!), and now currently the committee co-chair at Shady Grove, I’ve seen the positive impact that our committee has had on the community over these past two years. We’ve taken our outreaches to a middle school, a health fair, two libraries, a community rec center, a flu clinic, a health and fitness expo, and most recently… a Sunday school!

The Shady Grove committee chair and I are always exploring news ways to gain access to our target population. And sometimes, that means we have to get creative. The aforementioned Sunday school is a program I actually attended as a kid. A large part of it is dedicated to teaching students how to speak, read, and write in Vietnamese. Remembering the large number of students from all grade levels that this program saw each week, I knew that this Sunday school was the perfect place to take our campaign next.

But how were we going to convince the teachers to let a bunch of pharmacy students come in and educate on medication safety, a topic that while undoubtedly important, is completely irrelevant to the curriculum? Well, we decided to pitch the outreach as a bilingual lesson. Our focus would still be on teaching students the difference between prescription and OTC medications, how to read and understand a drug facts label, how to safely store and dispose of medications, etc. But we would also incorporate as much Vietnamese into the lesson as possible.

Taking at least a month to have it approved by the Sunday school, the idea was by no means a shoo-in. Even then, we were only allowed thirty minutes to conduct our lesson to forty students! But thanks to the hard work put in by several first year committee members, and the Shady Grove committee chair, the event was a huge success. We began with a brief presentation given in both Vietnamese and English, leaving plenty of time at the end for an exciting game of Jeopardy. While answers given by the students could be in English, points were doubled if they could be given in Vietnamese. The kids had such a fun time (proof in the pictures below)!

This post could not have been written at a better time because just last night, it was announced during the APhA-ASP Annual Meeting in San Francisco that our school’s chapter was first runner-up for the 2015-16 OTC Medicine Safety Award! This committee has been near and dear to my heart since day one, and I cannot wait to see what more our chapter can do. #togetherwecan

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Posted in Academics, Life at USG | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

By the Students, for the Students

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Samuel

It has been couple of days, we have been on spring break yet I do not feel on break. While others are enjoying their break, I have been taking some of my friend’s shifts. For instance, yesterday I had twelve hours shifts and was extremely tired, just to come next morning at 7:45.

What sounded like a harsh day actually allowed me to make bounds with the population that was coming in the library since we were both unfortunate friends. I can actually tell you on top of my head what population are coming in the library as well their major, the time they will come and leave.

So far, at the Priddy library, nursing student had taken control of the attendance. They were always there not missing a day, 24/7 and until closing. These names, Eric Funte, Vince Cascioli and others were the champion of attendance during spring break for the nursing school. Followed by Business management, with people like Hai-Son Dang and Kevin Anani. It was as if they were competing against each other to the throne of Priddy library. These remarks are what I have come up with while under a 12-hour shift, as these are just my personal survey, there a more meaningful survey going on campus that is actually affecting 1/3 of the population at USG.

Indeed, during this break, the student council and its representative met and discussed about future projects and ways to make the school for the student and by the students. Among the multiple subjects that was on the agenda, one picked my curiosity: Discount tickets on bus pass.

For years, the student council have been fighting to help student taking public transportation. They have been through vicissitudes to be able to finally come up with an idea that both suits the student council and the administration. However, this idea includes the participation of the students. It is up to the students to now voice their choice and show interest in the program.

In order to do that, they have set up survey in the library and the student services so students can express their voice by filling the survey. This survey is the only means to know approximately the interest of student in that domain and would allow the students and administration to back up their claim (student need discount tickets on bus) with actual data. Therefore, it is important that all student attending as well prospective student access the survey. This of course is a pilot program and only covers the month of April. Then from there, we would see how of a success the program is and arrange ourselves for the months coming up.

You wanted your voice to be heard, then help us by filing the survey by just clicking on this link:

https://umdsurvey.umd.edu/jfe/form/SV_2ovEQutY58r3W3b

Posted in Academics, Campus Activities, Faculty & Staff, Fitness & Wellness, Life at USG, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Spring Break

Posted on March 23, 2017 by USG

springBrerak

Happy spring break everyone!

This week marks the first week of spring. We can already feel the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer. It’s the perfect time to go outside and enjoy the sunshine!

Cheerful sun in sunglasses

It also marks the week that students at USG are off for spring break! It’s the perfect chance to catch up on well needed sleep. For those of you who have traveled or are traveling for the break, here’s wishing you safe travels! For those who stayed home for spring break, hope you are taking advantage of the break!

I have come to the realization that, even though it is still a break, we may still have homework at the back of our minds. If you need to find a quiet place to study and do homework, the Shady Grove campus is still open during the week. Feel free to bring your text books to study and get homework done (I know I am).

If you are one of those students that is using the break to catch up on homework (like me), that’s great. However, it is still critical that you take advantage of this break. Maybe you can use the free time to catch up on tv, or hang out with your friends.

My point is, the break is also therapeutic. Having the chance to relax and refresh can help you become more successful in your academics when you return from the break. It gives a momentary pause from the stress of the classroom.

Some activities you can do over the break is going to the beach, hanging out with friends, going for a hike, and more. There are many ways to spend your time!

hiking

My advice to you – don’t waste your entire break on homework and study. Go out with your friends, sleep in if you want. You may regret not taking advantage of the break when you come back for classes.

 

 

Posted in Academics, Fitness & Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spring Break in Paris

Posted on March 21, 2017 by M

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

Paris is known as the city of love, but I went and found something even deeper: an appreciation for art and language.

As a business major, my focus has always been on business concepts and business programs. So this spring break, I decided I wanted to do something different by participating in the “Classical Myths in Paris” short-term study abroad program and learning about a subject I am completely unfamiliar with. 

Although it has only been 3 days in Paris so far, one of the best parts about this experience has been being forced to interact with people in a different language. Although I am bilingual, I still find learning a new language to be difficult. I recognize that I can’t be a master of all languages; however, taking the time to learn phrases from each country I visit is better than nothing. Especially in France, I have learned that making the attempt to speak French and show that you are not simply making the assumption that they know English truly does go a long way.

Here are some of the little phrases I have been using while navigating around the city. Although these are simple, knowing little phrases in every country you plan on visiting is crucial. 

  • Bonjour – Hello [it’s extra polite to add a title: Madame, Monsieur]
  • Bonne journée (bunn zhour-nay) – Have a nice day [when leaving]
  • Bonsoir – Hello [in the evening]
  • Bonne soirée (bunn swa-ray) – Have a good evening [when leaving]
  • S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please [literally, “if you please”]
  • S’il vous plaît, parlez-vous anglais? – Please, do you speak English? – (seel voo pleh, par-lay voo ahn-gleh?)
  • Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you 
  • Merci bien/merci beaucoup – Thank you very much (mer-see byen, mer-see bo-koo)
  • Je vous en prie (zhuh voo zahn pree) or De rien (duh ryen) – You’re welcome
  • Au revoir (ohr-vwahr) – Goodbye
  • A bientôt (ah byen-toh) – See you soon
  • La carte, s’il vous plaît? – The menu, please (la kart, seel voo pleh?)
  • L’addition, s’il vous plaît? – The check, please (la-dee-syon, seel voo pleh?)

 As I have written before, participating in a study abroad program really allows you to expand your worldview, as I experienced when I participated in the accounting study abroad program over winter break. Now I realize the importance even more. Doing a study abroad program that is different from your field of study allows you to develop your cultural competency even more!

Posted in Academics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peru in my Shoes (A Study Abroad Story Part 1)

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Christine

Hello from Peru!

I hope everyone is having a great first day of Spring Break! (Sorry if you’re not on Spring Break right now.) I just want to share with everyone what I am up to during my Spring Break.

I’m enrolled in a course called “Peru: Sustainable Development, Democracy and Human Rights” through the UMD Short Term Study Abroad Program.

We’re just now in the beginning part of our trip, and we’ve spent the last 3 days in the Amazon jungle in the Madre De Dios region. We’re staying at an ecolodge called Posada Amazonas to learn about the native Infierno community, the work they do for ecotourism, and the ecosystem of the Tampobata region.

Today, we went on 4 different hikes, walked over 10 miles on difficult terrains, sat in on several scary boat rides, and had a lot of interesting experiences. Here are my two favorites:

IMG_5282.JPG

  1. Hiking in the Flood Plains Forest in the Tambopata River Basin. It really is walking through a swamp. As you can see, I got a part of Peru in my shoes. This hike is especially special because the local guides wanted to show us a special Ceba tree, which is so huge that it won’t even fit in a panoramic. This tree is supposed to  be the biggest in their forest region and believed to be tied to a lot of spirituality and beliefs.

IMG_5232.JPG

2. I also got this opportunity to make a new furry friend! Meet Lucas the Capuchin! I saw him when my group and I went to see a Fish Farm the locals are starting up. This business aims to bring in tourists who wants to learn more about the Infierno community by eating at their restaurant for authentic food and learning how to fish with bow and arrow. Definitely did not expect to see a friendly little monkey there!

Well, that’s it for now since wifi is spotty, and we have 4:30am wake up calls!

To be continued…

Posted in Academics, Life at USG, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Learn how to use your tools (like Excel)

Posted on March 18, 2017 by andrewstinton

Seo Summary Computer Business Growth ChartIn 2003 I was a young sailor on a submarine in the Pacific Ocean. I knew how to install software, configure routers, and write some code. So, when my senior officer asked me how to use Excel to create a pie chart, it was completely expected that I knew how to do that, too. But I didn’t have a clue! And, I didn’t have the ability to just go to Google it. (There is no constant internet connection on a submarine.)

Wherever you are in your life right now, you’ve got it easy. If you want to make a pie chart, or a cherry pie, the internet can show you how!

Recently, I was helping a client of mine to polish up a business plan in preparation for a loan application. He had a year worth of data from sales, inventory, investments, etc. and five years’ worth of projections based on the investments he wants to make. I ended up showing him how to make some charts, and format his spreadsheets. We reworked a good percentage of his data and used referential cells so that we could show how the numbers would change if one of the assumptions changed, such as a 10% increase in sales compared with a 20% increase in sales. This also made it easy to see what would happen if he extended his hours. After showing him a few basic charting tips he put together a professional looking document with full color charts that really brought his business numbers to life.

Today, the ability to use technology effectively is not a marketable skill, it’s a nonnegotiable requirement. But, that doesn’t mean that you need to be a whiz. The internet is full of how-tos and useful tips. Mastering a search engine and thinking “there’s got to be a better way” will steer you towards mastering your software tools. I’ve already covered “Google fu” in another post. Here are some examples of things to know about how to boost your Excel (or any other spreadsheet app).

There are many resources on the internet, each with their own style for presenting the ‘how-to’. You may find videos better, or maybe you learn better by reading and then doing. Whatever your preference for a spreadsheet application, there are plenty of sources for you.

Here’s a complete two-hour portfolio that’s a good place to start if you have little to no understanding about spreadsheets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lXerL3DHRw

Freeze panes are fun and they make it so that you can hold horizontal or vertical labels in place and scroll across multiple rows or columns of data without having to remember which data is in which row or column.

http://www.excel-easy.com/examples/freeze-panes.html

Referential cells make it really easy to change one or more variables in a formula. You can incrementally increase variables and do many other cool things with cell references.

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Use-cell-references-in-a-formula-fe137a0d-1c39-4d6e-a9e0-e5ca61fcba03

Filter and sort is a great tool that helps you organize your data or extract just a selected portion of your data based on the values or even the colors of cells.

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Sort-and-filter-data-ffb9fcb0-b9cb-48bf-a15c-8bec9fd3a472

Here’s everything to know about graphs (charts). Everything.

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Create-a-chart-from-start-to-finish-0baf399e-dd61-4e18-8a73-b3fd5d5680c2

Most of what you can do in Excel, you can do in the alternative spreadsheet apps like Numbers on Mac OS or even Google Sheets. Here’s an example of how you can do charting in Sheets.

https://support.google.com/docs/answer/63728?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Gear up for grad school apps!

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Rebecca Gale

Since those of us who are undergraduates at the Universities at Shady Grove are within at least a couple years of graduating, a lot of us have the question of what on earth we should do after graduation on our minds. One obvious path is going to grad school. While this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the great news is that USG has tons of resources to help with the daunting process of applying to grad programs. As I’ve talked to professors and grad school alumni, I’ve come up with a list of some of my own tips for applying:

  • Start early!!! If you are planning to enter grad school in the fall, you should probably start working on searching for, getting in contact with, and applying to grad schools at least a year (if not more) in advance from when you would start the program. So if you’re hoping to enter grad school in the fall of 2017, you should start the process in at least the fall of 2016. The earlier, the better because it’s a lot of work. Be aware that GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. can take a while to get sent. If you are starting late in the game, limit the number of schools you apply to so you don’t get overwhelmed and miss things or consider waiting till next year to apply so you can really bring your A-game.
  • Research your programs well. Comb through every part of a program’s website and read about the coursework, internships, experiences, and faculty to get a better sense of what their focus and objectives are and how well it fits with what you want in a grad program. Unlike with undergrad programs, grad programs offer you the chance to really focus on a specific area that interests you, so find something that excites you!
  • Get a GRE prep book, take practice tests, and sign up for a practice class. These books explain the test format and offer practice questions, refreshers on how to do that math you learned in high school, and more. There are also apps where you can practice answering questions on the go. Best of all is that USG offers a summer GRE prep class for students and alumni, completely free to students, run by our incredible Center for Academic Success staff.
  • Find a mentor to guide you through the process. Whether a professor, a career counselor, or a current grad student, find someone (or multiple people) who can give you insight into the process, suggest programs, give things a second look-over, and offer advice and encouragement. This is crucial!
  • Talk to your professors. Get more engaged in speaking in class and meeting with professors outside of class so they can get to know you and your work in order to write a stellar recommendation. Not to mention, profs can be a great resource to let you know about grad programs they think would fit you, as well as recommendations for how to make your application stronger. They want to see students go to awesome grad programs, so don’t be afraid to ask them for help!
  • Gain internship, work, public speaking, research, and publishing experience in your field.  Grad programs can be extremely competitive, especially funded ones. So completing internships, volunteering, working on research with a professor, presenting papers at conferences and symposiums, and publishing in journals can make you a more impressive candidate. This kind of experience proves that you are serious about working in your field, disciplined, and hard-working.

Best of luck!

Posted in Academics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now is YOUR time

Posted on March 16, 2017 by USG

Midterms are here, but that is not the only exciting thing happening at the Universities at Shady Grove campus this week. On March 14th candidate applications for the USG Student Council became available. However, have no fear of applying for a position on the council as the election won’t be that extreme where you will need the help of Oliva Pope and her Gladiators (from the hit TV series Scandal). As stated in the flyer below all you have to do is run for USG student council and BE A LEADER.17212251_931078170360764_4383726229541203655_o

The Universities at Shady Grove Student Council as some of you may know is unique in the sense that it consists of representatives from all nine universities on the USG campus. Yours truly has had the pleasure of serving as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s representative and also as the Chair of Advocacy and Outreach. Details on the requirements, roles, and responsibilities for members of the Council can be seen here. And all you need to know about the elections process can be seen here. Fill out the application using this link here.

A significant fact to note is that there are stipends available for each position on the student council! So why not earn some extra cash while engaging, empowering and evolving the USG student body. Being someone who does not believe in unpaid internships, something that being on the council is very similar to as it provides experience and resume entries that can spur careers; I think USG is truly amazing to deliver these stipends.

That being said, as I reflect on this experience, there were many wonderful times where we were able to engage, empower and help the USG student body evolve and because of that, I wanted to encourage each and every one of you to apply for the USG Student Council. Over this past year while on the council we received feedback from students on the campus and were able to take these to the USG administration. To date, we have worked closely with the USG administration to address student concerns and have been very successful. I quite like that I can park in the Traville garage from 4 pm now! I am excited that USG is an inclusive space and will be adding a gender neutral restroom. I feel secure and comforted when my fellow students talk about how brightly lighted the walkway from the Shady Grove garage is. And I am extremely pleased that my program of study has been completely revised to address the demand of the workforce.

I see that many students on the campus have the passion and enthusiasm to be great council members and I am eager to see them all take the incredible opportunity of being on the council and contribute meaningfully to USG campus life. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have and good luck to all the candidates. #LifeAtUSG

Posted in Academics, Faculty & Staff, Life at USG, Uncategorized, Work Experience | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments