Resources for Graduate Students

UMBC’s Career Center offers a variety of services and resources to help you make the most of your graduate career development process. Our staff specifically assists masters and Ph.D. students in developing job search skills in order to pursue internships and full-time positions in industry and academia. The earlier in your graduate career you begin working with us, the more value you will receive!  We are here to help you achieve your career goals with:

Career Advising

Schedule an appointment with a career advisor to discover more about the career planning and job search services highlighted below. Appointments are scheduled in 30- or 60-minute increments depending of your advising type. 15-minute, quick drop-in advising is also available weekdays from 2-4 p.m. on a first come, first served basis. Learn more about the different types of advising and schedule an appointment.

Prepare Professional Documents

Develop strong professional documents using our online resources and then schedule an appointment with an advisor for feedback. We will critique resumes, curriculum vitae, cover letters, and any other professional documents you may have.

Interviews

We can help you prepare or practice for an interview. Employers frequently visit campus to interview candidates. Search and apply for on-campus interview opportunities in Handshake and be sure to apply by the stated deadlines.

Internships/Research/Co-op Experiences

Major-specific career advisors are ready to help you create an internship search strategy. Once you find a position, we can help you enroll in the PRAC course and potentially earn academic credit for your experience. PRAC is also a key component of the CPT process for international students.

Job Search Process

Meet with career advisors to learn how to navigate the job search process in academia or industry. Our website also includes resources for Handshake, tips on LinkedIn, salary negotiation, navigating the job search, as well as general information on making the most of your part-time or full-time job search.

Attend Events and Workshops

View our Career Events Calendar to learn specifics of the many programs we offer such as annual career fairs, UMBC Connects, employer networking events, Career Month, Keys to Success workshops, and our Inside Scoop series. Each spring we host Career Paths for Graduate Students, an event geared toward you. You can also request a workshop presentation for a class or student organization, on topics such as professional skills or job searching.

Define Your Career Path

Meet with a career advisor to discover how your graduate program is connected to various occupations and related career paths. Research potential careers using our Major Sheets, O*NET, and Vault.

Stay In Touch

Are you social? Check out our myUMBC group, Twitter, and Facebook accounts to receive the latest career event updates, advice, quotes and job postings.  Weekly e-newsletters will also be sent to your UMBC email account with new opportunities and events.  Newsletters are available for both your industry and special opportunities just for graduate students.

Finding a Job in Academia

Seeking a job in academia can be challenging and competitive. You will need to consider whether or not your interests lie in teaching, research or both. This decision will direct your job search. Here are some useful tips and resources that should be helpful to your academic job search. Check out these great sites:

National Research Council

The NRC Associateship Programs
The National Research Council (NRC) administers competitive postdoctoral and senior research awards on behalf of 33 U.S. government research agencies with facilities at over 100 locations throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Finding a Job in Public/Private Industry

Whether you are in grad school to enhance your skills and train for your current job or are considering a career change, a recommended strategy is to take a thorough assessment of your strengths and evaluate how your current education is transferable to industry. By pursuing your graduate degree, your earning power has increased. For help with your job search or career transition we strongly encourage you to meet with one of our career specialists.

Helpful Job Search Resources

Handshake is an online recruiting tool used to search for jobs and sign up for on campus interviews. You will find companies such as Lockheed Martin, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, NIST, the U.S. Navy and many more, searching for UMBC graduate level talent. You can also search for part-time jobs, fellowships, and graduate school opportunities.

 

Finding a Job in Government

he federal government recruits and hires both students and recent graduates interested in careers in public service. These job openings will be in many different career fields and at a variety of government agencies. When applying for a federal government position, you must start early and have a strategy for obtaining employment. Identify your strengths and skills and determine which agencies you would like to target — keeping in mind which agency fits or matches your unique skill sets. Keep in mind that federal jobs also require unique information in applicant resumes. For information about how to create a government resume, check out  Federal Government Resumes. Review information provided on websites carefully and don’t hesitate to contact a career advisor for additional guidance.

Helpful Job Search Resources