Spring Career Guide

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SPRING CAREER GUIDE

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THE DIAMONDBACK | spring career guide | Monday, February 10, 2014

Landing the internship

By Eliana Block @thedbk For The Diamondback It begins with a daunting to-do list that gets longer as the months whittle away. Next comes friends announcing their grand summer plans as parents start putting the pressure on. Before you know it, deadlines rapidly approach, panic sinks in and you’re finally forced to pay the price for procrastination and confront your greatest fear: the summer internship.

Sure, summer internships can be extremely rewarding and can catapult students to their dream careers down the line. But it can be extremely stressful to start applying and to make plans so far in advance when you don’t even know which bar you’re going to Friday night.

To offset stress paralysis, university officials encourage students to be proactive in researching summer opportunities. Erica Ely, internship program director at the Career Center, said the best ways to land summer internships are to utilize the university’s Careers4Terps site, have one’s resume reviewed and attend university-sponsored career events, such as the three-day Spring Career & Internship Fair, which starts Tuesday.

“Students shou ld show up

making sure to follow up are also crucial steps in the process, she said.

“Sending a follow-up email is knowledgeable the day of the fair. the step students miss the most,” It sounds good to an employer when Ely said.

Although the Career Center a student says, ‘I saw you had a position in public relations that I wanted pushes students to get involved early, some students are relucto talk to you about,’” Ely said.

Ending the conversation by taking tant to use the center’s resources. an employer’s business card and Freshmen psychology majors Vic-

toria Daley and Jasmine Trumbull said they felt “no pressure at all” — Trumbull hadn’t heard of the Career Center or the career fair, and Daley thought it might be too early in her college career to start searching for jobs and internships.

“As a freshman, I don’t think [the career fair] would do much for me,” Daley said.

However, Ely said it’s never too early to get started. In response to many underclassmen thinking there wasn’t a place for them at the career fair, the Career Center sought out some businesses specifically interested in freshmen and sophomores, such as Capital One, Verizon and Toyota.

SEE internships, PAGE 7

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 | spring career guide | The Diamondback

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Destined to fail?

Don’t let your career end before it begins

By Katie Takacs @thedbk For The Diamondback When their resume is one of hundreds, it can be difficult for students to stand out among their peers — unless they’re unknowingly standing out in a bad way.

With a difficult job market and an abundance of opportunities for personal mistakes to be documented on social media sites for years to come, students can easily sabotage their career chances. Luckily, there are ways to avoid these pitfalls.

Ashlee Kerkhoff, the business school’s undergraduate student programming director, said one of the biggest mistakes students make is not connecting with career services early and often enough, forgoing the opportunity to do their best in interviews.

“Even if you feel like you’re prepared, there are so many resources here. Any step in the process, we can help,” she said.

Kerkhoff said one of the most crucial skills the University Career Center provides is preparation.

When students are not equipped

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with the correct skills for an interview, it shows both lack of research and interest.

Karen Lewis, internship and career adviser and English undergraduate studies assistant director, agreed.

“The No. 1 issue I hear from recruiters is that students aren’t prepared,” Lewis said. “They want you to be able to know what their company does and ask questions about ‘X,’ ‘Y’ and ‘Z.’ They want you to have done your research.”

Employers aren’t the only ones who feel students aren’t prepared it’s easy to mess up your chances before you’ve walked into the interview. james levin/the diamondback — students do too, Kerkhoff said.

The No. 1 issue students report is tial employers, it’s also important idea that you are doing something also not being properly prepared; for them to recognize that employ- bad should be taken down. We all know what is in the red Solo cup.” they don’t have the right exam- ers will do research too.

“Students need to realize that ples to share, the ability to sell Some students have caught onto their skills or knowledge of the employers are typing their names the idea of sanitizing their social into Google to see the perception media accounts. Avoiding using company, she said.

While it’s essential for students they are giving the public,” Lewis to do sufficient research on poten- said. “Any picture that gives the SEE SABOTAGE, PAGE 8

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THE DIAMONDBACK | spring career guide | Monday, February 10, 2014

Everybody’s working for the weekend University students balance coursework, activities and on-campus jobs

By Joe Zimmermann @thedbk For The Diamondback Working at the information desk at Stamp Student Union, Diana Kim answers questions constantly. At times, that might involve giving step-by-step directions to a desperately lost student over the phone. Other times, she answers what she thinks could be the most common question asked in the lobby of the student union: “Where is the Stamp?”

Kim, a junior community health major, is one of almost 5,200 undergraduate students employed on the campus, according to Human Resources Director Dale Anderson.

In addition to working at the desk, Kim also belongs to a sorority and works with Dining Services.

Between her two jobs, she works about 40 hours a week, but she said

she hasn’t had a problem balancing school and work.

“My jobs are pretty flexible,” Kim said, noting her bosses are always understanding. “They know school comes first.”

Kim has worked at the information desk for the past two years, and she has worked with Dining Services all three years she has attended this university. In that time, she has learned to prioritize and manage her time wisely. Two jobs is a lot, she said, but they brings in enough money for rent.

L au ren Jones, a ju n ior accounting major, is another of the nearly 1 in 5 undergraduates to work an on-campus job while taking classes. Jones, who recently started her job at the Visitor Center, worked a similar job at A nne Arundel Community College, and SEE campus, PAGE 5

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 | spring career guide | The Diamondback

campus From PAGE 4 now she works a few times a week so she can still keep up with school.

“I’ve had jobs in school before, so I kind of know what I am and am not capable of,” Jones said.

Danielle Walkerwicz, a sophomore enrolled in letters and sciences, started her on-campus job at the University Book Center at the beginning of the semester, but she doesn’t think managing her time will be a problem. She scheduled all her classes so she would have more days available for work.

“Because of that, I’ve been able to successfully manage my time and make some money,” she said.

Students often seek out jobs for a chance to earn some extra cash, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy working. Some even stick around after graduating.

Alex Nowak, a music major, and Nava Benham Shabahang, a dance major, were frequent customers at the Maryland Food Co-op before they began working there. Because of restrictive schedules, each started working there in their last semester, but once they started, they didn’t want to leave. Now they are still employed by the Co-op, even though they graduated in December.

Co-op employees are especially close, and the job places a strong emphasis on community, Benham Shabahang said.

“It’s a really special place,” she

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“I’VE HAD JOBS IN SCHOOL BEFORE, SO I KIND OF KNOW WHAT I AM AND AM NOT CAPABLE OF.” LAUREN JONES

Junior accounting major

said. “It’s not a job you can find anywhere.”

In Nowak’s last semester, he worked the early shift before going to class then had the rest of the day free. That way, he completed his fi nal 16 credits and worked 20 hours or more each week. Now The University Book Center offers one of many job opportunities on the campus. james levin/the diamondback that he’s done with classes, Nowak rolled in a full schedule of classes, with busy work and school schedworks full time.

It is much easier to work a job he said. ules, it’s not for everyone. Tedros Although many students thrive Bitew, a junior economics major without being simultaneously enwho, like Kim, works at the Stamp information desk, also works two on-campus jobs.

He doesn’t have a problem splitting his time between the information desk, the Stamp Ticket Office and his classes. He always finds it manageable, but he would not recSend resume to employment@magview.com ommend the same kind of commitment for most students.

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THE DIAMONDBACK | spring career guide | Monday, February 10, 2014

Ties between Terps

Philadelphia facilities.

Monica Karkhanis, a 2011 graduate, followed her love of “entertainment, media and pizza” to New York City to work as an event marketing “A couple of my big projects right coordinator at Nickelodeon.

Karkhanis organizes, plans and now include the Maryland Day website; we’re rebranding that,” he manages events worldwide for Nicksaid. “All the social media and all that elodeon, including the Kid’s Choice good stuff … that runs through me.” Awards and Comic-Con, she wrote While Siraj was unsure what he in an email.

“The minute I got the call for an would do when he graduated, Ike Richman, a 1988 graduate, represents interview, I took the Megabus to a rare case of someone who “fell into New York and never looked back,” she wrote. [his] dream job.”

University alumni end up all over As the vice president of public relations for Comcast-Spectator, the world in myriad careers, and Richman has publicized a variety many agree the skills they developed of events in his 20-year tenure, and the experiences they had during including the 1996 World Cup of their time as undergraduate students Hockey and the 2000 Republican shaped their future prospects for the better.

National Convention.

“I was really confident in myself; I “If you had gone back about 25 or 30 years ago and said, ‘Ike is spoke really well. I knew how to write going to do this,’ I would have said, and how to connect with people, ‘Yeah, that sounds about right,’” said and I think that’s what got me the Richman, who oversees public and job now,” said Siraj, who majored in media relations for the company’s communication.

University alumni offer advice for future

By Erica Bonelli @thedbk For The Diamondback Even after graduation day has come and gone, university students never really leave their pasts behind — rather, they become part of a network of alumni who are innovating, building, learning and communicating using skills learned at this university.

From the computer-savvy to the public relations wizards, university alumni end up in a plethora of careers.

Justin Siraj, a 2012 graduate, is a Web and new media strategies specialist working for the university’s marketing and communications department, in which he handles the university’s websites and does digital marketing.

Siraj said networking is the best thing students can do to further their job prospects and noted that his six diverse internships as an undergraduate were instrumental in helping him decide the direction of his career.

Richman, who got his start in radio, said he worked at student radio station WMUC and accepted

an offer to interview players at the Capitals’ game for the station, where he met the Philadelphia Flyers’ public relations director in the press box.

“I’d like to think that the skills I learned at Maryland really helped me. I studied journalism at MarySEE ALUMNI, PAGE 7

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 | spring career guide | The Diamondback

internships

Over the summer, Kardon worked as a real estate assistant, a job he found through his community email From PAGE 2 listserv. Fleskes, however, arrived Juniors Jason Kardon and Nicole at her summer position as a social Fleskes are both in the business media and marketing intern for school, which emphasized the im- Rene Arnéz through Careers4Terps. portance of students gaining hands- Both recommended students start on internship experience, they said. the search for summer internships “The business school stress- now because they can be a huge es being employable,” Kardon resume boost.

Karen Lewis, assistant director said. “There is a course, BMGT 367 [Career Search Strategies in of undergraduate studies in the Business], entirely dedicated to English department, said interning over the summer allows students to getting an internship.”

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explore a professional field without a long-term commitment.

“If you think you want to work in an industry, you should check it out first,” she said.

Lewis echoed Ely’s emphasis on the importance of following up.

“You want to make contact once a week at most so as not to overdo it, but just enough to keep your name in their thoughts,” she said.

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alumni From PAGE 6 land, and I learned how to write. …

I worked at WMUC, so I was able to communicate on the radio,” he said.

Ultimately, Richman’s position today is a product of taking chances along the way, he said.

“It’s a little story called taking advantage of opportunities that exist,” Richman said. “Find someone that does what you want to do … and when you get ahold of them, ask them, ‘How did you get here?’”

Karkhanis also stressed the importance of internships and networking.

Karkhanis focused her interning in a specific field to show her dedication to entertainment and media.

Siraj and Karkhanis advised students to keep an open mind because career developments do not always turn out as expected.

“Work hard and do not let anyone tell you that you will not make it in your dream job,” Karkhanis said.

“It may not always turn out exactly how you had envisioned, but with enough determination and smarts you will get far.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

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THE DIAMONDBACK | spring career guide | Monday, February 10, 2014

SABOTAGE From PAGE 3 her full name on social media sites and making her profiles private and unsearchable are steps senior environmental science major Alexa Nieves has taken, hoping potential employers won’t find anything negative about her online.

Jeremy Fields, a senior economics major, said he has heard horror stories of friends being denied jobs because of their online presence.

“I heard a story yesterday of a girl interviewing for a position.

When they looked at her Facebook, her profile picture was her, in a tub, feet in the air, jeans around her ankles with a beer in her hand,” he said. “She didn’t get the job.”

However, when used in the correct way, social media sites, specifically LinkedIn, can benefit students.. Kate Juhl, the Career Center’s student services and academic outreach program director, said it is important for students to have positive profi les on sites like LinkedIn with endorsements and skills.

Rachel Gottschalk, a junior management major, said it is sometimes

hard to clean up social media sites without completely deleting them, but it is also important for companies to see a “happy medium” to show personality.

Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn might give employers a fi rst impression of a student, but beyond the computer screen students should also remember their clothing can make them stand out — in a positive or negative way. Lewis said it’s imperative to be mindful of clothing choices, which can sometimes be more difficult for women because of skirt lengths and shirt cuts.

With so many ways to hurt their chances, it’s important for students to be cognizant of the image they’re putting forward, in interviews and on social media sites, in order to land their dream job or internship. And the best thing they can do is work hard and put in the necessary time.

“Don’t sabotage yourself by neglecting to spend time on your job search. It’s not just about job searching,” Juhl said. “It takes persistence, networking and a lot of preparation.” newsumdbk@gmail.com

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