The Career Center has developed the following list of terms and recommended practices/principles of professional conduct for students. Failure to abide by the following terms may result in consequences as described below. If you have questions or concerns about these practices, please discuss them with one of our staff members.
Resume Submission
- Provide accurate information on your qualifications, experiences, and interests.
- Review the requirements of each job/intern posting before applying to ensure you meet the requirements and have a genuine interest in the opportunity.
- Do not round up your GPA.
Counseling Appointment No-Shows
- Any student who accumulates two (2) no-shows within a six month period will have their appointment privileges and job application privileges in Handshake suspended (excluding walk-in advising, workshops, online resources etc.) Students are required to meet with the Career Center Director (or designee) and write a letter of apology before future appointment scheduling and job application services are restored. A no-show is declared when 15 minutes have elapsed past the start time of the scheduled appointment. Any student who contacts us less than 24 hours in advance of the scheduled start time to either cancel or change the appointment will also accumulate a “no-show.” Late arrival requests from students will be allowed per the scheduled counselor’s discretion.
Interview Preparation / Offers
- Acknowledge invitations for interviews promptly, whether you accept or reject them. Accept invitations only when seriously considering the position.
- Dress in a professional manner and be sure to prepare for each accepted interview offer.
- Interview preparation includes being able to identify and articulate your strengths as they relate to the employer with whom you are interviewing. This requires researching both the organization and position to which you are applying.
- Interview No-Shows Are Not Acceptable! Please keep all interview appointments. If for any reason you are unable to keep the interview appointment, cancel at least 24 hours in advance by calling the office where the interview is being hosted. Missed interviews reflect poorly on you and UMBC and may keep your peers from having access to that timeslot. In the event of a cancelation, proper notice must be given to avoid from being “blocked” from using Handshake.
Job/Internship Offers
- Discuss offers with employers to verify terms and reach mutually acceptable response deadlines.
- Notify employers that you are accepting or rejecting an offer as soon as possible and no later than the arranged date, so the employer can notify other candidates that the position has been filled or that they are still being considered. Respond to every offer, whether you accept or reject it.
- Request extensions from employers if you need more time to consider offers.
- Once you have accepted an offer:
- Honor your acceptance of the offer as a contractual agreement with the employer. Do not continue to interview after accepting an offer or renege on an accepted offer. This is unprofessional and could irreparably harm UMBC’s reputation with the employer, and jeopardize your professional reputation.
- If applicable, immediately notify other employers with whom you have offers pending.
- If this is an internship, share your good news with the Career Center. Positions obtained through the Career Center are accompanied by a mandatory intern/co-op/research transcript notation (PRAC) and are eligible for upper-level credits for most majors.
- If this is a full-time position, also share your good news with the Career Center by completing the UMBC Graduating Student Report at cap and gown pick-up, responding to the survey invitation email or by sending an email to your career specialist or the recruiting coordinator.
Consequences
- Failure to comply with any of these terms may result in your Handshake account being blocked and/or internship application privileges being removed.
Beware of Fraudulent Job Postings
The Career Center works very hard to ensure that job postings in Handshake are legitimate positions, however, scammers are becoming more and more creative and sometimes fraudulent postings are approved in Handshake. Following are some tips to help prevent you from applying for a fraudulent position:
Fraud Posting Red Flags
- You must provide your credit card, bank account numbers, or other personal financial documentation.
- The position requires an initial investment, such as a payment by wire service or courier.
- You are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account (often for depositing checks or transferring money).
- You receive an unexpectedly large check (checks are typically slightly less than $500, generally sent or deposited on Fridays).
- The posting includes many spelling and grammatical errors.
- The position initially appears as a traditional job…upon further research, it sounds more like an independent contractor opportunity.
- The position indicates a “first year compensation” that is in high excess to the average compensation for that position type.
- You are asked to provide a photo of yourself.
- The posting appears to be from a reputable, familiar company yet, the domain in the contact’s email address does not match the domain used by representatives of the company (this is typically easy to determine from the company’s website). Another way to validate is to check the open positions on the company’s website.
- The position is for any of the following: Envelope Stuffers, Home-based Assembly Jobs, Online Surveys.
- The posting neglects to mention what the responsibilities of the job actually are. Instead, the description focuses on the amount of money to be made.
- The employer responds to you immediately after you submit your resume. Typically, resumes sent to an employer are reviewed by multiple individuals, or not viewed until the posting has closed. Note – this does not include an auto-response you may receive from the employer once you have sent your resume.
- The employer contacts you by phone, however there is no way to call them back. The number is not available.
- The employer tells you that they do not have an office set-up in your area, and will need you to help them get it up and running (these postings often include a request for your banking information, supposedly to help the employer make transactions).
What can you do to determine if a job is fraudulent?
- Look at the company’s website. Does it have an index that tells you what the site is about; or does it contain information only about the job you are interested in? Scammers often create quick, basic web pages that seem legit at first glance.
- Watch for anonymity. If it is difficult to find an address, actual contact, company name, etc. – this is cause to proceed with caution. Fraud postings are illegal, so scammers will try to keep themselves well-hidden.
- Google the employer’s phone number, fax number and/or email address. If it does not appear connected to an actual business organization, this is a red flag. Better Business Bureau, Hoovers and AT&T’s Anywho can be used to verify organizations.
Disclaimer
UMBC is not responsible for employers’ representations or guarantees with regard to job postings, nor is it responsible for wages, working conditions, safety, or other work-related issues that may arise after placement with an employer. UMBC is not responsible for fraudulent job postings, however if a job listed on Handshake is found to be fraudulent, please report it immediately to careers@umbc.edu or call 410-455-2216 so that it can be removed from Handshake and any other applicants can be notified. For additional resources on avoiding job scams see the Evaluating Job Postings section of our website