Navigating Your Career in a Changing Job Market
We recognize the anxiety and uncertainty that some of our students may be facing as they navigate a rapidly changing job market. The unexpected disruptions have impacted many of our students and alumni. Please know that we’ve been through tough job markets before, and our Terps have always continued to be successful in their careers and other post-graduation pursuits. We know you will too.
The University Career Center is here to support and guide students through these challenges. We are committed to providing resources and assistance to help them adapt and explore new opportunities. As we navigate these times, it's important to remain hopeful and proactive.
We've designed this page to support you with a curated list of job/internship search strategies, networking opportunities, and career resources.
Key Career Strategies for Students
- Broaden Your Job Search
- Embrace Temporary, Freelance, and Gig Work
- Online Courses and Certifications
- UMD LinkedIn Learning
- Focus on Soft Skills Development
- Leverage LinkedIn & Handshake
- Connect with Alumni
- Conduct Informational Interviews
- Attend Career Events
- Customize Resumes and Cover Letters
- Highlight Transferable Skills
- Consider Graduate Programs
- Look into Internships and Fellowships
- Consider Volunteering
- Monitor Industry Trends
- Remain Optimistic
- Utilize Career Services
- Seek Out Mentors
- Prepare for Setbacks
- Continue Applying
Career Resources & Events
Handshake Job & Internship Boards
Find jobs and internships tailored to UMD undergraduates, graduate students & UMD Alumni. Login to Handshake to see:
Workshops
Our monthly "How to..." workshops are designed to provide students a jumpstart on basic career development topics: Searching for an internship or job, building your network, and preparing for an interview. Log in to your Handshake account to sign up.
Upcoming Workshops/Panel
- Dress for SUCCESS Workshop Apr 17 | 5-7:30 PM
- Making the Most of Your Summer without an Internship Apr 18 | 12-1 PM | Virtual
- How to Prepare for an Interview Apr 28 |12-12:45 PM | Virtual
- Global Health Career Series: Career Panel featuring Gates Foundation & Novartis Apr 18 | 12-1 PM | Virtual
Graduating Student Focused Events
- Senior Day at the University Career Center April 23 | 1-3 PM | In-Person
- Job Start Your Job Search (Undergrads) May 2 | 12-1:30 PM | In-Person
- Job Start Your Job Search (Master’s Students) May 7 | 12-1:30 PM | Virtual
- Job Start Your Job Search (Undergrads) May 9 | 12-1:30 PM | Virtual
- Job Start Your Job Search (Undergrads) June 11 | 12-1:30 PM | Virtual
- Job Start Your Job Search (Undergrads) July 15 | 12-1:30 PM | Virtual
Employer-Specific Events
- Get to Know the Disney College Program Apr 17 | 4-5 PM
- An Introduction to AmeriCorps NCC Apr 17 | 1-1:30 PM
- Cushman & Wakefield: From Intern to Employee Apr 21 | 2-2:30 PM
- Teach for America: Maximize your career journey with AI Apr 21 | 5
- Bain & Co: 2025 DC Undergrad Case Interview Workshop Apr 22 | 5-6:30 PM
- Teach for America: Ignite Fellowship Session Apr 23 | 6-7 PM
- DC Metropolitan Police Virtual Career Fair Apr 23 | 6-8 PM
- Arlington County Police Department Apr 29
- Working Within: Crime Scene Unit Apr 29 | 8-9 AM
- Women in Law Enforcement Apr 29 | 12-1 PM
- Oliver Wyman: Ace the Case Interview Apr 29 | 2-3 PM
- Handshake: Just in Time Fair - Business focused May 2 | 1-3 PM | Virtual
Find additional Employer In-Person and Virtual Events posted in Handshake
Free Profesional Headshots
- April 22, 2025 | 12 PM - 2 PM
- April 28, 2025 | 12 PM - 2 PM
- May 6, 2025 | 12 PM - 2 PM
- May 12, 2025 | 12 PM - 2 PM
Upcoming Career Center Events
- Health Professions Grad. School Recruitment Fair Apr 24 | 3 PM - 6 PM
- Just in Time Meetup May 6 | 2 PM - 4 PM
Career Development Tools
Resources include (each with a brief description & link):
- LinkedIn Learning - Develop new skills to make you more marketable to the types of employers you are seeking out. (current students only)
- PathwayU - platform that acts as a career compass that guides you in discovering education and career pathways that fit your unique interests and values.
- GoinGlobal - a premier database service providing students and professionals the resources to find career opportunities domestically and internationally.
- Terrapins Connect - UMD Alumni Networking Database, Terrapins Connect, has discussion groups, job postings, and other networking tools to conduct informational interviews with alums.
- Big Interview - Practice your virtual interviewing skills with industry-specific interview questions or popular questions that have a tendency to make an appearance during an interview.
- Mentra - Job search platform specially designed for neurodivergent job seekers with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences. Access hundreds of jobs with one application. Attend office hours for help completing your candidate profile.
- Vault - Gain helpful insight on a variety of industries and career paths through guides, blogs, and videos.
- Focus 2 - helps UMD students and alumni identify their natural strengths by taking personality and work preference self assessments. Register and create a free account. Your access code is "goterps".
- What can I do with this Major? - Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, What Can I Do With This Major? will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about typical career areas and types of employers that hire people with each major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate.
- O*NET - a free online database that contains hundreds of job definitions to help students and job seekers understand today's world of work in the United States.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - published by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, OOH is a career resource that provides information about hundreds of jobs in the United States.
Additional Support for Students & Alumni
Additional Campus Career Services
The University Career Center serves all UMD students and has embedded many career resources within the schools/colleges. In addition, there are school-specific career services that offer more tailored support:
- Engineering Career Services
- Smith School of Business, Office of Career Services
- Career Connections - School of Public Policy
- BSOS, Feller Center for Career Planning & Academic Advising
- Merrill College of Journalism, Internship support
- Professional & Career Development - Graduate School (Doctoral and Post-doc support)
Alumni Career Resources
- Jobs for UMD Alumni (Handshake)
- UMD Alumni Association Career Services
- Terrapins Connect Networking Platform
Resources for Displaced Federal Workers
- Maryland.gov: Maryland Workers Impacted by Recent Federal Actions
- Maryland Department of Labor
- Prince George's County, Maryland: Resources for Federal Workers
- Montgomery County, Maryland: Resources for Workers Impacted by Recent Federal Government Actions
- WorkSource Montgomery
- Anne Arundel County, Maryland: Federal Employee Assistance
- Expanded Howard County Resources
- VirginiaHasJobs.com: Resources for Impacted Federal Workers
- Virginia Employment Commission
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth: Resources for Impacted Federal Workers
- VirginiaWorks.gov
- Arlington County, Virginia: Assistance for Federal Employees and Contractors
- Fairfax County, Virginia: Help for Residents Affected by Federal Workplace Actions
- Prince William County, Virginia: Resources for Residents Impacted by Federal Workforce
- Get Hired in NOVA - A weekly webinar will be hosted to connect job seekers with the resources they need to find a job in Northern Virginia