Michele Ellison

B.S. in Information Systems
Dec. 2008

Where are you now?
Booz Allen Hamilton (Linthicum, MD) working as an IT/Government Consultant.

What was the best part of using the Career Services Center in your job search?
Career Services Center (CSC) offers many valuable tools to help students find a job. Two of the services that I found most valuable were the networking events and the online job search.

At CSC networking events you get to meet with representatives from top employers in the area. You have the opportunity to ask questions, participate in mock interviews, and develop a relationship with the representatives. These types of events are an excellent way to introduce yourself to employers, find out what qualities the employers are looking for, practice your interviewing skills, and establish a network.

The UMBCworks site, available exclusively to UMBC students [and alumni], is another excellent tool CSC has provided to aid in the search for employment. Through UMBCworks you can search and apply for employment with some of the top companies in this Maryland/DC/Virginia area and around the country. In addition to searching for employment you can apply for internships and networking events that are held at the campus. There are no fees for using the site [as a student], no advertisements, all employers have a pre-established relationship with the university, and the employers have a desire to hire UMBC students. The commercial job search sites just don't give you the personal service that you get through UMBCworks.

Any advice you would give to other students?
It is not always enough just to submit your resume and hope the employer contacts you. Network as much as you can. Don't stop networking after you are employed. It is just as important to network while you are working as it is when you are job hunting.