The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper
THE DIAMONDBACK
career guide 2026
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Table of contents
CONTENTS career fair on-campus jobs 5 3 guide career center 4 off-campus jobs 6 interview FULLY UPDATED AND EDITED BY: Founded 1910, independent since 1971. SAM GAUNTT Editor-in-Chief 3150 S. Campus Dining Hall, College Park, Md., 20742 301-314-8200 https://dbknews.com/contact-us/
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career fair guide
career fair guide By Stella Garner I Tabloids editor
What some students love and most students dread is right around the corner. It’s almost time for the Fall Career & Internship Fair on Oct. 1 and 2 at The Hotel at the University of Maryland. It can be overwhelming to roam the halls alongside thousands of peers and look at hundreds of different employer tables without the proper preparation. So here are some tips for making your time at the career fair as effective and impactful as possible.
Dress appropriately
Grab business cards Without giving out your contact information or having a way to follow up with employers, there’s no second step toward connecting with those groups and finding a possible internship or post-graduation job. Most employers will be happy to provide you with resources to apply for open positions or reach out with further questions. Following up with groups you are particularly interested in can often set you apart from the many other students who saw their table, so it’s always a good idea to have a business card with your name, major, email and phone number.
You don’t want to show up to an employer’s table wearing your typical lecture sweatshirt and leggings. You also don’t need to wear a three-piece suit — especially since a lot of students don’t keep professional attire in their school wardrobes — but a good medium could be a sweater with some nice dark-wash jeans or a collared shirt and slacks. If you have to go to the fair straight from class, it could be to your benefit to pack a change of clothes to switch into afterwards.
Bring plenty of resumes Now this is one of the most important fair preparations — use one of the campus printers to make a few copies of your resume to hand out to employers. Generally speaking, a good resume should be: - No longer than a page - Neatly arranged, with a clear font no smaller than 10pt and headings for your job titles. - Have full, grammatically correct sentences. - List your contact information
Don’t forget a nametag The first thing you should do upon arriving at The Hotel is check in with the registration tables to receive your nametag, which will typically list your name and major. This is important information to see — if you’re a student in the business school, a television studio that you might not initially be interested in could have a position for you that you otherwise wouldn’t get to know about.
Maximize your time The fair is generally segmented into the different industries and majors that students are interested in — not only by location, but also by the specific day of the fair. Check the map online or at the registration tables to ensure that you find the area of the fair that is most appealing to you. This can save you lots of time and mindless wandering, especially when the fair gets to its busiest points.
students flock to Stamp Student Union to attend the Spring Career & Internship Fair in 2017. (Tom Hausman/The Diamondback)
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off-campus jobs
UMD students find community, brief school reprieve in off-campus jobs By Amanda Sinofsky I Diversions reporter
This story was adapted from The Diamondback’s 2025 Career Guide. Walk down Route 1 in College Park and you’ll see countless bars, restaurants and coffee shops. Just minutes from campus, students at the University of Maryland work at these establishments both behind the scenes and behind the counter. This university’s on-campus workplaces range from Stamp Student Union to dorms, but some students opt to get their paycheck off campus. When Kayla Nophsker spoke with The Diamondback in September 2025, she had worked as a server at The Greene Turtle since its opening the previous fall. Nophsker said she normally worked two to three shifts a week, totaling about 16 to 20 hours. Balancing a part-time job, academics and social activities can be tricky, but the then-junior criminology and criminal justice major said that wasn’t the case for her. “It’s pretty easy for me because I’m a really organized person and I’m good at time management,” Nophsker said. “But definitely for some other people, it’s hard when there’s an exam the next day and you’re scheduled to work the day before that.” Campbell Stein, who in fall 2025 was a senior criminology and criminal justice major, started working at R.J. Bentley’s that semester as a server. A hotspot for upperclassmen, R.J. Bentley’s is a staple weekend hangout. Like Nophsker, Stein said she didn’t have much trouble managing having an off-campus job and her academics. “Now that I’m a senior, I know how to manage my time better,” Stein said last year. “I think they’re really good at scheduling you based off your school schedule, and we have a good balance with academics and social life, which is nice.” The majority of Stein’s coworkers were also students at this university, which she said was one of her favorite parts of the job. Stein enjoyed being able to see people she knows at the restaurant while working, especially on Friday nights.
While the nearby off-campus bars are major destinations for student employment, the job field in College Park isn’t limited to serving or bartending. Shop Made in Maryland, located in the College Park City Hall building, is a cafe and store that sells items made by local artisans. Phoebe Kaplan, a then-junior family health science major, was a barista there in fall 2025 and said she worked at most 10-15 hours per week. “The management at Shop Made does such a great job with understanding that we’re all students, and they’re really flexible,” Kaplan said last year. “I put in my classes and my manager will never schedule me during class time and when I have my extracurriculars with my sorority and things like that.” Kaplan also had little issue managing her time while having a part-time job. While working at Shop Made in Maryland, she said she always had a good balance between work, school and getting to see her friends. Despite the friendly environment at The Greene Turtle, Nophsker said the hours could sometimes be a little tough. Especially on the weekends, she said she often worked until 2 or 3 a.m., which is difficult when she still had homework to do after a shift. Nophsker said she had to miss social events, such as birthday parties and hanging out with friends, because of work. Off-campus jobs provide a sense of community away from this university, but still allow for meaningful relationships with fellow students. Establishments such as The Greene Turtle, R.J. Bentley’s and Shop Made in Maryland offer students the opportunity to engage with each other outside of classes and campus activities. “My favorite part probably is all of the people I’ve met and all the connections that I’ve made,” Nophsker said. “I’m always making friends there.”
Restaurants at the College Park Shopping Center on Jan. 29, 2025. (Christina Duncan/The Diamondback)
THE FAMED R.J. Bentley’s is one of many bars that may see more patrons following the ban on “unruly social gatherings” in College Park. (SungMin Kim/The Diamondback)
A SHOP MADE location in College Park on Dec. 7, 2023. (Sophia Slaughenhoupt/The Diamondback)
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on-campus jobs
here’s where students are working on campus Where do you work on campus?
What do you like about working on campus?
“SORC development” - @__lillyphillips
“The staff really care about the students we serve!” - @angienastazee
“Facilities management and center for archival futures” - @mxgxnxie
“Contributing to campus community” - @mxgxnxie
“ResLife” - @jaeisinlove
“Convenient hours + getting money while in school” - @jaeisinlove
“Turner hall” - @suzy.edie
“Convenience” - @akua.appi
“Stamp bookstore” - @sierra.gg_
“Makes me feel like I’m still involved and also a lot of communication with residents” - @cartier.daddy_
“Community assistant in Denton community” - @cartier.daddy_ “College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences” @rachellaw.official
“No commute!” - @antoniaspivak “$$$” - @k_chrissy.o
“TerpZone” - @maxy_285
“The commute is quick” - @bk_2620
“SEE” - @simonwong591
“Getting to help students answer questions that I was also confused about w/ my org” - @__lillyphillips
“The Writing Center” - @bk_2620 “Office of undergrad admissions as a visitor experience student rep, and an RA” - @its_jaxlyn “University honors program offices” - @s4ntr3xx
“Proximity of an on campus job” - @its_jaxlyn “Amazing location” - @s4ntr3xx “Nice coworkers” - @michlala._
“Office of Sustainability” - @abbeyvanasse
The Residence Hall Association logo on a table cloth at the meeting on Feb. the exterior of Stamp Student Union on March 22, 2023. (Giuseppe 25, 2025. (clare roth/The Diamondback) LoPiccolo/The Diamondback)
the newly constructed Pyon-Chen Hall on Aug. 10, 2021. (Julia Nikhinson/The Diamondback)
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CAREER FAIR INTERVIEW
Here’s how students can succeed at UMD’s fall 2026 career fair By Lillian Gray I Staff writer
Career fair tips Ely has some tips about what to wear, bring and say to employers at the upcoming career fair. First, it’s important to consider what type of dress code is expected for different industries, she said. Students pursuing a job or internship in tech or creative fields can dress more casually, while those in fields like engineering and accounting should try to adhere to a professional standard of dress. “Wear something that is comfortable for you, but still just try to step it up a little bit since you’re part of the recruiting process,” she said. In terms of what to bring to the career fair, Ely suggests students carry copies of their resume, although some employers may not accept them due to specific hiring policies. The networking platform Handshake is also a vital tool for students attending the fair, Ely said. Students can check Handshake to see which employers will be in attendance and when, as some are only there one of the two days. Students should also use the platform to check if employers are offering any internships or jobs before going to the career fair. “[Employers] have this hope and desire that students put in a little work ahead of time before approaching,” Ely said. Another thing to keep in mind is that each
employer will have a QR code at their booth for students to scan. Employers will receive a list of students who checked in, as well as access to their Handshake profiles and resumes if they are set to public. When speaking to employers, Ely recommends students begin by sharing their name, major and class year if it’s relevant, as well as why they are interested in the organization.
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[Employers] have this hope and desire that students put in a little work ahead of time before approaching,
- Erica Ely
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The University of Maryland’s 2026 Fall Career & Internship Fair on Oct. 1 and 2 is just around the corner, and students may be wondering exactly how to approach the event. To gain some insight, The Diamondback spoke with Erica Ely, assistant director for career education and exposure at the University Career Center, about all things related to jobs and internships. Here’s what the career expert had to say.
But, she added, the conversation shouldn’t sound “robotic.” “The career fair is overwhelming, it’s intimidating,” Ely said. “It’s good just to kind of practice ahead of time what you want to say, how you want to introduce yourself. It doesn't have to be this long, drawn-out thing.”
Interviewing When preparing for a job or internship interview, students should first save the position description, because according to Ely, it’s not guaranteed the description will be posted forever.
Then, students should study the job description to get an understanding of the key skills employers are looking for, she said. Having insight into different aspects of the company, including its major projects, main clients and mission statement, can help students get an idea of how to approach the interview and tell them if they relate to the company’s ideals. Ely also said it’s important to brainstorm personal stories that could be used to demonstrate experience in the field. “It’s kind of like studying yourself prior to an interview,” she said. “Don’t just go in empty-handed.” Ely then recommends students practice recounting their personal narratives out loud as a trial run for the actual interview. “That interview shouldn’t be the first time that you’re trying to tell an employer … a little bit more about your background and experience,” she said.
Ways for students to network Ely encourages students to take advantage of all the networking opportunities this university has to offer. For example, they can talk to people in the communications department if they’re pursuing communications, or employees at the university health center if they’re interested in healthcare. “The university as a whole, is its own business in a way, its own organization with many different components,” she said. Ely also said students can use Terrapins Connect, a database that allows users to connect directly with university alumni, to help them build out their career network. She called the tool a “mini LinkedIn.” As for career fairs and other events planned by the career center, Ely said she wants stu-
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CAREER FAIR INTERVIEW
dents to know that employers attend voluntarily because they want to connect with students. “These employers are fully choosing to come here and spend time with Maryland students and try to get to know you all for their internships and jobs,” she said.
General career advice Ely suggests students “plug into as many opportunities as [they] can” and check out the university career center or any other major-specific career centers across campus when seeking out general career advice. The career center hosts an array of networking events and industry panels throughout the year, and Ely says they try to educate students on all of the career possibilities that are out there. “Check us out and see what’s going on,” Ely said. “Engage and just be curious.”
students interact with booths during the career fair at Stamp Student Union on Sept. 26, 2024. (Giuseppe LoPiccolo/The Diamondback)
a sign sits in front of one of the entrances to the Fall Career & Internship Fair in Stamp Student Union on Sept. 27, 2023. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)