As students return to campus for the fall, many are sharing stories of a summer spent traveling with family, hanging out with friends and taking extra classes.
But for UMBC students who took advantage of the time off to engage in professional experiences, summer was also a chance to step outside the classroom and into the workplace. From managing corporate events for a top fashion designer to analyzing data at a Fortune 500 technology company, their internship, co-op and research positions have helped set them on a path to a successful career.
"I love being able to apply the skills I have learned in the classroom on real-world problems that need solving," says Alec Pulianas '14, Computer Engineering, who interned as a systems engineer for SAIC.
It's no secret that an increasing number of employers are looking for candidates with the practical skills necessary to hit the ground running. According to a 2012 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, more than 40 percent of new hires were expected to come from a company’s internship program. Additionally, NACE shared that nearly 60 percent of 2012 college graduates who completed a paid internship received at least one job offer.
"A good internship is important and priceless," says Donta Henson '14, Health Administration & Policy, who interned at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). "Take the time to choose a place that is right for your skillset or the skills you want to develop because that internship can blossom into so much more."
"Internship, research and co-op experiences play a critically important role in helping students find successful and meaningful careers," says Christine Routzahn, director of the Career Services Center. "We want our students to obtain the training and learn the skills necessary to not only find a job, but a career they are truly passionate about." She encourages students to meet with her staff to learn about the internship and job search resources available, such as UMBCWorks, a Web portal that serves as a hub for viewing job listings, organizing documents, and learning about upcoming career events.
This summer, nearly 800 students in the UMBC internship program applied their skills—and passions—to help non-profits advance their mission, support research integral to better understanding diseases like diabetes and cancer, and assist in developing real-world products and programs. Other students raised awareness of the benefits and impact of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), curated manuscript collections at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and worked in the packaging department of Baltimore’s Domino Sugar plant.
For students planning future internships, there's good news: according to a recent Internships.com survey, 53 percent of employers surveyed said they expect to hire more interns in 2013 than they did in 2012. But, before starting your search for the perfect internship, some of UMBC's recent summer interns would like to offer a little advice.