TERP GUIDE

Careers.umd.edu | @umdcarereercenter

301.314.7225 | 3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing

INTERNSHIP & JOB SEARCH

FEARLESSLY MOVING

CAREERS FORWARD!

FEARLESSLY MOVING

CAREERS FORWARD!

Table of

CONTENTS

TERP GUIDE

UNIVERSITY OF

MARYLAND

UNIVERSITY

CAREER CENTER &

THE PRESIDENT’S

PROMISE

WWW.CAREERS.UMD.EDU

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Organizations requesting services from the

University of Maryland shall be equal opportunity

employers in accordance with all applicable

state and federal laws. The University does not

discriminated on the basis of race, color, creed,

sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal

appearance, age, national origin, physical or mental

disability, or political aliation, or on the basis of the

exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment

of the United States Constitution (VI-1.00 University

of Maryland Human Relations Code, 5/6/98).

The University of Maryland Career Center’s policy

of non-discrimination applies to all current and

prospective employers participating or seeking to

participate in Career Center employment services

or educational activities.

GETTING STARTED

Programs & Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Career Decision-Making Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Four-Year Career Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

All About Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

RESUMES & CORRESPONDENCE

Preparing Your Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Top 10 Pitfalls in Resume Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Action Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Your Resume Checklist Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Samples of Work Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Articulating Experiences for Resumes & Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Sample Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-16

Sample Cover Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Sample Correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Sample References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Email Correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES

Go Online, Go Oine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

LinkedIn Prole Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-24

Search Strategies: Jobs & Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Informational Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Elevator Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Getting the Most Out of the Career Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Terrapins Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

INTERVIEWING

Dress for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Questions Employers Ask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Questions to Ask Employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Behavioral Interview? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Handshake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Preparing for Vitural Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

JOB OFFERS AND BUDGETING

The Art of Negotiating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Budget Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

ADDITIONAL SEARCH CONSIDERATIONS

Marketing Your Liberal Arts Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Federal Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

International Students & The Job Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Resources for Students of Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Resources for Students with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Resources for LGBTIQA+ Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Personal Statement Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER

VISION

Empower all University of Maryland students to realize their full career potential.

MISSION

Provide education, advising, experiential learning, professional connections, and direct access to opportunities that

support career readiness. This includes:

• Facilitating self-assessment that enables students to discover how their interests, values and skills relate to career choices

• Teaching students to use career exploration and job search resources

• Coaching students in professional behaviors and how to articulate their potential value to an employer

• Creating events, forums and activities to engage professionals in students’ areas of interest

• Cultivating relationships with employers to open channels of opportunity for students

• Partnering with faculty and other campus colleagues to build a seamless network of career support

• Monitoring and reporting on key data relevant to career outcomes and workplace trends

• Instilling a spirit of proactivity in students that encourages their pursuit of career goals

HOURS OF OPERATION

University of Maryland

3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing | College Park, MD 20742

Main Oce: M-F | 9:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. | 301.314.7225

Schedule a career advising appointment through Handshake

www.careers.umd.edu

@UMDCareerCenter

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Apply to 1,000+ internships, part-time jobs, and full-time job

postings.

Schedule career advising appointments and sign up for

workshops, panels, and employer programs.

Access virtual resources: Focus2 (self-assessment), FirstHand

(industry guides), Big Interview (virtual interviewing practice),

GoingGlobal (career opportunity search), and more!

Handshake is the Center's online career management database!

Claim your profile at go.umd.edu/handshake and be able to:

EMPLOYER HIRING EVENTS

Fall and Spring Career & Internship Fairs serving all

majors and industries.

Industry-specific Career & Internship Fairs.

Meet-ups: smaller industry-specific informal.

networking events.

Individual employer information sessions.

We offer many hiring events during the fall and spring for

UMD students and alumni from all academic backgrounds

to connect with employers. Some hiring events include:

One effective way to make time for career development is by

taking a class. We offer several courses online.

EDCP108i: Academic Transitions to Internships

1 Credit Online

Engages students in the ful

l internship search experience.

PSYC123: The Psychology of Getting Hired

1 Credit | Online

Applies psychological principles and strategies for landing

internships/jobs.

BSOS288A: Neurodiversity in the Workplace

1 Credit | Online

For neurodivergent and neurotypical students to learn

strategies to plan career paths, understand why employers

may look to hire neurodiverse employees, and have university

resource

s available.

UNIV099: Internship Seminar

0 Credit | Online

Complements internships and assures the experience is noted

on a student's transcript.

CAREER COURSES

HANDSHAKE & OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

Identity-Based Programs, including the "Working While

Black Career Series", "BIPOC CAREER Assistance Hours",

and "How to be Career Ready as a BIPOC Student",

programs for students with disabilities and intersecting

identities, and more.

Industry-Specific Programs, including internship & job

search workshops based on industry, "Careers In.." panels,

"Career Chats" with UMD alumni, Career Shuttles to local

employers, and more.

How to...Workshops for internship and job search

strategies, building your network, preparing for interviews

(general, scientific, technical), and more.

Intern for a Day to expose students to different careers

through one-day job shadowing experiences

Doctoral & Postdoc Programming is offered by a network

of career offices, the University Career Center, and the

Graduate School.

We regularly offer workshops, panels, and other programs to

educate students on potential career fields and relevant

career development topics. All programs are listed on the

UCC Event Calendar on our website (careers.umd.edu)

Learn more: go.umd.edu/doctoralcareerinfo

WORKSHOPS, PANELS, & OTHER PROGRAMS

Careers.umd.edu | @umdcareercenter

301.314.7225 | 3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing

FEARLESSLY MOVING CAREERS FORWARD!

Choosing a major.

Exploring career fields & reaching out to professionals.

Searching for internships, jobs, and grad programs.

Preparing for interviews & mock interviews.

Resume/cover letter reviews.

Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a career advisor or

undergraduate Peer Career Educator through

Handshake. Topics may include:

CAREER ASSISTANCE

Career Process:

DECISION-MAKING

1. ASSESS YOURSELF

Identify your interests, skills, values,

and personality. A good grasp of

these attributes allows you to

consider appropriate majors,

investigate potential career elds,

prepare a competitive resume and

eectively explain qualications

to employers. Unsure of how

to approach this?

Start with us!

5. SEARCH

FOR A JOB

Your Terp Guide

emphasizes important

considerations for a

knowledgeable, organized

and successful search. First,

create and polish your resume

and cover letter. Utilize multiple

top search strategies including

networking, events, connecting

with employers and social media.

2. EXPLORE YOUR CAREER OPTIONS

Learn all you can about

occupations and career elds

that might be a good t with

your interests, natural abilities,

personal values and overall

personality characteristics.

Our Center has several

ways of making this easier

for you.

3. GAIN

EXPERIENCE

This is critical. Internships

and well-chosen part-time

jobs help apply theoretical

classroom learning to real-life,

test career goals, gain on-the-job

experience and build a network.

The President’s Promise provides

opportunities for integrated learning

experiences through internships, research,

study abroad, living-learning programs,

leadership and service learning, designed to

complement academic majors.

4. CONSIDER GRADUATE/

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL

Graduate school involves personal and nancial commitment. Research areas

of interest and possible programs to nd a good t for you. Applying involves

entrance exams, personal essays, letters of recommendation and more depending

on the program. Whether you’re just starting to consider graduate school or you’re

well into the application process, take advantage of our helpful Center resources.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Apply to 1,000+ internships, part-time jobs, and full-time job

postings.

Schedule career advising appointments and sign up for

workshops, panels, and employer programs.

Access virtual resources: Focus2 (self-assessment), FirstHand

(industry guides), Big Interview (virtual interviewing practice),

GoingGlobal (career opportunity search), and more!

Handshake is the Center's online career management database!

Claim your profile at go.umd.edu/handshake and be able to:

EMPLOYER HIRING EVENTS

Fall and Spring Career & Internship Fairs serving all

majors and industries.

Industry-specific Career & Internship Fairs.

Meet-ups: smaller industry-specific informal.

networking events.

Individual employer information sessions.

We offer many hiring events during the fall and spring for

UMD students and alumni from all academic backgrounds

to connect with employers. Some hiring events include:

One effective way to make time for career development is by

taking a class. We offer several courses online.

EDCP108i: Academic Transitions to Internships

1 Credit Online

Engages students in the ful

l internship search experience.

PSYC123: The Psychology of Getting Hired

1 Credit | Online

Applies psychological principles and strategies for landing

internships/jobs.

BSOS288A: Neurodiversity in the Workplace

1 Credit | Online

For neurodivergent and neurotypical students to learn

strategies to plan career paths, understand why employers

may look to hire neurodiverse employees, and have university

resource

s available.

UNIV099: Internship Seminar

0 Credit | Online

Complements internships and assures the experience is noted

on a student's transcript.

CAREER COURSES

HANDSHAKE & OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES

Identity-Based Programs, including the "Working While

Black Career Series", "BIPOC CAREER Assistance Hours",

and "How to be Career Ready as a BIPOC Student",

programs for students with disabilities and intersecting

identities, and more.

Industry-Specific Programs, including internship & job

search workshops based on industry, "Careers In.." panels,

"Career Chats" with UMD alumni, Career Shuttles to local

employers, and more.

How to...Workshops for internship and job search

strategies, building your network, preparing for interviews

(general, scientific, technical), and more.

Intern for a Day to expose students to different careers

through one-day job shadowing experiences

Doctoral & Postdoc Programming is offered by a network

of career offices, the University Career Center, and the

Graduate School.

We regularly offer workshops, panels, and other programs to

educate students on potential career fields and relevant

career development topics. All programs are listed on the

UCC Event Calendar on our website (careers.umd.edu)

Learn more: go.umd.edu/doctoralcareerinfo

WORKSHOPS, PANELS, & OTHER PROGRAMS

Careers.umd.edu | @umdcareercenter

301.314.7225 | 3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing

FEARLESSLY MOVING CAREERS FORWARD!

Choosing a major.

Exploring career fields & reaching out to professionals.

Searching for internships, jobs, and grad programs.

Preparing for interviews & mock interviews.

Resume/cover letter reviews.

Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a career advisor or

undergraduate Peer Career Educator through

Handshake. Topics may include:

CAREER ASSISTANCE

Individuals can enter this model at

different points of their academic career.

Whenever you consider a career change,

employ these same steps. The specic

details will differ, but the process is

essentially the same.

Learning this process as a student makes

this a valuable lifelong tool.

FOUR - YEAR CAREER PLAN

FIRST-YEAR: AWARENESS

THIRD YEAR: EXPERIENCE

FOURTH YEAR: TRANSITION

Explore your interests through work-related experiences,

job shadowing, and speaking with professionals in a variety of

occupations.

Develop targeted resume(s) and cover letter(s) and have

them critiqued at the Center.

learn what influences the hiring process and how to develop

your competitive edge.

Attend Center fairs, career panels, work

shops, and

networking events.

Discuss career goals with Center staff.

Build your resume by pursuing career and major-related

opportunities.

Research various career fields and professions of interest, use

Terrapins Connect for career and job-search advice, and conduct

informational interviews.

Establish and maintain your professional media presence

through such networks as Linkedin, Twitter, and B

logger.

Update your Handshake account.

Attend career and internship fairs, networking events, and employer

site visits to learn about professional opportunities.

Careers.umd.edu | @umdcareercenter

301.314.7225 | 3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing

FEARLESSLY MOVING CAREERS FORWARD!

SECOND YEAR: EXPLORATION

Visit the Center in person and follow us online.

Complete a personality/career assessment, such as

FOCUS 2, to see how your interests relate to your career path.

part-time, summer, and/or volunteer opportunities in your career

area(s) of interest.

Begin planning for The President's Promise opportunities such as

rese

arch, study abroad, student leadership or volunteerism.

Maintain a good academic record. Employers see grades as an

objective measure of your abilities and time management skills.

Bring in updated targeted resumes) and cover letter(s) for

critiques at the Center.

what influences the hiring process and how to develop your

competitive edg

(For students looking for that first internship) Register for EDCP108i:

Academic Transitions to Internships to engage in the full experience of

searching for an internship.

Assess your progress and check in with Center staff as needed.

Gain practical experience through internships, study abroad,

research, student activities, and volunteer work.

Conduct a virtual mock interview to see how well

you do and

practice your 30-second "commercial/elevator pitch."

Interview with employers seeking interns through the

On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Program.

Network with employers at information sessions, events, and fairs.

Update and create Search Agents in Handshake.

Continue building your professional brand via social media.

Update your targeted resume(s) and cover letter(s), and have

them crit

iqued at the Center.

Develop relationships with professionals who could serve as

references.

(For Potential Graduate Student(s) Familiarize yourself with

graduate or professional school admissions procedures.

Strategize your upcoming job search with Center staff.

Attend Center events to strengthen job search skills such as

resume writing, interviewing, and networking.

Develop targeted resumes an

d cover letters to support job

search activities and have them critiqued at the Center.

Utilize Search Agents in Handshake to receive alerts and apply

for employment.

Research prospective employers thoroughly before interviews.

Present your qualifications to employers attending Career &

Internship Fairs.

Take advantage of the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI)

Program for full-time jobs.

Continue to ne

twork and conduct informational interviews with

employers of interest.

(For Potential Grad Students) Have your personal statement critiqued

for graduate or professional school applications.

19 56

All About Internships

Internships oer you on-the-job experience—the number one

factor employers consider when hiring employees. Internships

can be full- or part-time, short- or long-term, paid or unpaid,

for or not for credit, or any combination of these. Above all,

an internship needs to be a supervised work experience that

enhances a student’s academic and/or career skills.

INTERNSHIP FAQs

What important steps should I take before seeking an

internship?

Self-assess. What skills and strengths do you have to oer an

organization? What career eld is of most interest to you? Are

you open to a part-time, fall or spring semester internship?

Where, geographically, do you want to intern, and do you have

connections in that location?

When should I begin searching for an internship?

Now! It is best to start searching at least one semester

in advance to allow time to research internships, prepare

application materials, and practice interviewing skills. This

timeline can be changed depending on the eld you are

pursuing, so do your research!

Do I get paid for my internship?

Some internships are unpaid; however, some pay regular

hourly wages or oer a small stipend. Be aware of the U.S.

Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act which helps

determine whether interns must be paid the minimum wage

for the services that they provide to “for-prot” private sector

employees.

Do you have to be a junior or senior to have an internship?

While many internships are advertised for juniors and seniors,

opportunities exist for students of all academic levels.

How do I receive academic credit for an internship?

You need to arrange credit with your department or contact

University Career Center sta for assistance.

HELPFUL INTERNSHIP WEBSITES

Handshake: careers.umd.edu/Handshake

Federal Government internships: usajobs.gov

Non-prot internships: idealist.org

All industries: indeed.com, internships.com, Linkedin.com

and industry-specic websites

BRIGHT FUTURES:

INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

Our Center accepts scholarship applications for unpaid

summer internships with nonprot or governmental agencies.

For more information on this undergraduate opportunity, visit:

go.umd.edu/BrightFutures

INTERNSHIP SEARCH

TIMETABLE & CHECKLIST

The internship search can feel overwhelming. This checklist

breaks down your search into smaller, more manageable steps.

Start checking o as many of these activities as you can and

you will be on your way to landing an internship!

Know Yourself & Where You Want to Intern

□ Identify your strengths, skills and interests.

□ Develop a list of elds of interest; research internship

trends and associated job boards.

□ Identify the geographic region(s) where you would like to

intern.

□ Develop a list of potential employers with internships that

interest you.

Prepare for the Search

□ Log on to Handshake through careers.umd.edu—

you now have access to 500-1,000 internship postings!

□ Attend a how to nd an internship or job workshop or

visit internships.umd.edu to learn about resources available for

nding an internship.

□ Prepare customized resumes and cover letters for each

internship opportunity. Use the samples on the

careers.umd.edu to get started

□ Use LinkedIn and Terrapins Connect to conduct

informational interviews with UMD alumni to gain insight on

searching for internships in your eld of interest.

□ Talk to everyone you know about your internship search

—keep faculty, family, friends, previous teachers and

coaches, and alumni updated on your search.

□ Check your wardrobe for proper interview attire and

purchase items as necessary.

Start the Search

□ Regularly check Handshake on careers.umd.edu

for open internships.

□ Attend career and internship fairs on campus to network

with employers seeking interns.

□ Maintain a system for keeping track of applications,

contacts, interviews, and other activities.

□ Practice your interview skills through mock interviews

and /or BigInterview on Handshake.

□ Send thank you letters and emails after every interview.

□ Keep in touch with advisors in the University Career

Center regarding your internship search and progress.

For more information, visit: internships.umd.edu

Preparing Your Resume

Did you know the average amount of time an employer spends

reviewing a resume takes 30 seconds? This means that you

have to put in the work to make it stand out.

How do you accomplish this? For starters, clarity and

brevity are important qualities for your resume, but the

information you provide must also be RELEVANT. Tailoring

your resume to the job’s required skills and experiences is a

MUST. A well-written resume should include highlights such

as relevant coursework, skills, and experience.

SUGGESTED CONTENT

Contact information:

Name (do not use nicknames), Permanent Address (or School/

Local Address), Phone number, your customized Linkedin URL

and Email Address. Be sure that your voicemail message is a

neutral greeting, and that you use a professional email address.

Objective (optional):

A brief statement of the type of position for which you wish to

be considered. May be stated (1) by job title, (2) by level or

type, (3) in terms of the skills you wish to use or develop, or (4)

as a combination of all three.

• Job title: To obtain a position as a market researcher.

• Level or type of responsibility: To work in a social service

agency, with responsibility for program planning and

implementation.

• Skills: A position in the conservation eld using skills in

lobbying, fund-raising and grant writing.

• Combination: (1) Sales representative with (2) responsibility

for identifying and building a client base (3) employing

organizational and interpersonal skills.

Don’t forget to tailor your objective for each employer that you

contact.

Education:

• Begin with the most recent degree (omit high school*)

• Include degree received or anticipated (Bachelor of Arts,

Masters of Science, etc.), major (concetration), minor, and

certicate program

• Date the degree was granted or is expected.

• Univeristy name and location (city, state)

• GPA if it is 3.0 or higher

• Academic honors, scholarships and awards (Dean’s List),

list semesters achieved

• You may also include a subsection that lists relevant

coursework related to the position

• Study abroad experience

*This is relevant to sophomores, juniors, and seniors in college.

Experience:

• List job/position title

• Organization/company name

• Location (city, state)

• Dates (month/year)

• ALWAYS start with action verbs, such as

“collaborated, wrote, designed and implemented,”

to describe job tasks, activities performed, and

accomplishments.

• Provide specic examples and quantify

accomplishments using statistics and numbers to

strengthen your resume.

• Include paid experiences, such as full- and part-time

work, internships, summer jobs and assistantships

• Don’t forget unpaid internships, extended research

projects, extracurricular activities, coursework, or

class projects that often lead to valuable knowledge

and skills.

• Always use present tense verbs (rst-person without

using -ing) to describe the job you are in now and

past tense verbs to describe previous jobs

Activities:

List activities in or out of school, if not already covered in

the experience section. Include activities RELEVANT to the

position, or where you have developed signicant transfer-

able skills, such as leadership and public speaking.

Skills:

• Computer (hardware and software)

• Foreign language prociency (literate, uent)

Non-Academic Honors and Awards:

List any awards and honors you may have received.

Professional Aliations:

List memberships in professional organizations, oces and

dates held.

Other Pertinent Information:

Citizenship, special licenses, certicates, clearances.

References:

Do not list references directly on your resume or use the

phrase

“References available upon request.”

Dates

should

go on the

right-hand

margin.

Top 10 Pitfalls in Resume Writing

1. Too long. Most new graduates should restrict their resumes to one

page. If you have trouble condensing, get help from a career ser-

vices professional.

2. Typographical, grammatical or spelling errors. These errors

Suggest carelessness. Have at least two people proofread your

resume. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell-checkers or grammar-

checkers.

3. Hard no read/Small margins. A poorly typed or copied resume

looks unprofessional. Use a plain typeface, 10.5 to

12-point font. Have margins no smaller than 0.5in. Asterisks, bullets,

under lining, boldface type and italics should be used only to make

the document easier to read, not fancier. Again, ask a professional’s

opinion.

4. Too verbose. Do not use complete sentences or paragraphs. Say

as much as possible with as few words as possible. “A,” “an” and “the”

can almost always be left out.

Your resume should include appropriate industry keywords, but be

careful in your use of jargon and avoid slang.

5. Too sparse. Give more than the bare essentials, especially when

describing related work experience, skills, accomplisments, activities,

interests and club memberships that will give employers important

information. each position you seek (when possible). Emphasize only

RELEVANT experience, skills, accomplishments and activities. Do not

include information that would be illegal or inappropriate if asked about

in an interview. This includes: marital status, age, sex, children, race,

ethnicity, religion, etc.

6. Irrelavent Information. CUSTOMIZE each resume for each posi-

tion you seek (when possible). Emphasize only RELEVANT,

experience, skills, accomplishments, and activities. Do not include

information that would be illegal or inappropriate if asked about in an

interview. This includes marital status, age, sex, children, race,

ethnicity, religion, etc.

7. Obviously generic. Too many resumes scream, “I need a job-any

job!” The employer needs to feel that you are interested in a particular

position and want to work for their specic organization.

8. Lack of keyword optimization. Many employers now use ATS

(Applicant Tracking Systems). It’s important to use keywords from the

qualications section of the posting to help your resume make it thro-

ugh their lters.

9. Boring. Make your resume as dynamic as possible. Begin every

statement with action verbs, using them to describe what you have

accomplished in past jobs. Don’t forget to also include language

specic to the eld in which you are applying.

Also, avoid repeating action verbs/words by using an online

thesaurus.

10. Too modest. The resume showcases your qualications

in competition with other applicants. Put your best foot forward

without misrepresentation, falsication or arrogance.

INSIDER INFORMATION

UMD Resources for Research

• Handshake: In addition to giving you access to full-time,

part-time, and internship positions. Handshakeprovides

information about employers and their UMD contacts. These

employers want to hire UMD students!

• Firsthand:Log in through Handshakefor employer/industry

insights, rankings, and reviews.

• TerrapinsConnect:Set up an appointment to meet

virtually with an alumnus for a career conversation, re-

sume tips, or a mock interview. Free for students/alumni.

https://terrapinsconnect.umd.edu

• Career Fairs: The University Career Center & The President’s

Promise host a variety of Career & Internship Fairs every year

that oer an abundance of opportunities to discuss your quali-

cations with employer representatives, many of whom are UMD

alumni.

• Special Events & Employer Information Sessions: Check

the calendar at careers.umd.edu for updates on Center

events as well as Employer Information Sessions that can not

only help you with job search skills, but also give you insider

information on what organizations are looking for in new hires.

Bottom Line: Employers expect you to exhibit knowledge of their organization in your cover letter and during interviews. Finding out as

much as you can about an organization will give you a competitive edge and convey your interest in working for them.

Gain an edge in your job search by conducting preliminary research

on the organizations where you want to work. Investing an organi-

zation’s mission, goals, values, and needs is a process necessary in

identifying which organizations to focus on and those that are going

to be a good t for you.

Other Online Resources

• Organization Web Sites: Most organizations maintain exten-

sive sites that include information regarding their organization’s

history, mission statement, community involvement, special

events, executive bios, or even past annual reports. This infor-

mation can be found under the Careers, About Us, or Contact

Us sections

• Social Media: Many organizations maintain a social media

presence on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,

LinkedIn, etc. Through these feeds pages, they provide orga-

nization news and occasionally job postings. LinkedIn can be

helpful to see if any employees are UMD alumni or what posi-

tions they held before their current one. Before connecting with

organizations on these sites, make sure that your own social

media presence is professional.

• Industry Specic Publications/Journals: Subscribing to

online or print publications in your career eld can keep you

updated about new practices in your industry.

• Google: A simple search can lead you quickly to helpful infor-

mation or bring up news involving the organization.

Action Verbs

Using action verbs to describe your experiences will infuse your resume with energy. Whenever possible, use verbs that represent

functions of the job you are seeking. The categories that follow are a sample representation of the roles and skills that students

utilize and employers seek. Remember to use present tense verbs for current activities and past tense verbs for completed

activities. Also, try not to use the same verb twice: the thesaurus in your word processing software should provide more than

enough possibilities.

Communication

Arbitrate

Arrange

Create

Develop

Direct

Edit

Enlist

Explain

Field

Identify

Inuence

Interpret

Lead

Mediate

Merge

Motivate

Negotiate

Obtain

Persuade

Proofread

Read

Reason

Recruit

Resolve

Spell

Write

Creative

Act

Conceptualize

Create

Customize

Design

Develop

Devise

Direct

Fashion

Generate

Illustrate

Integrate

Paint

Perform

Plan

Revitalize

Shape

Synthesize

Visualize

Write

Detail

Arrange

Calculate

Certify

Classify

Collate

Collect

Compare

Compile

Compute

Debug

Dispatch

Enforce

Execute

File

Inspect

Maintain

Organize

Process

Reconcile

Respond

Retrieve

Schedule

Tabulate

Validate

Financial

Administer

Advise

Allocate

Analyze

Appraise

Audit

Budget

Calculate

Compute

Develop

Manage

Monitor

Plan

Prepare

Record

Research

Revise

Solve

Track

Helping

Advise

Aid

Assess

Back

Coach

Comfort

Consult

Counsel

Diagnose

Enable

Encourage

Facilitate

Foster

Guide

Interact

Interview

Mentor

Model

Negotiate

Observe

Promote

Refer

Rehabilitate

Represent

Secure

Stabilize

Support

Tailor

Treat

Tutor

Volunteer

Management

Administer

Analyze

Assign

Authorize

Contract

Control

Coordinate

Delegate

Develop

Direct

Discipline

Enlist

Evaluate

Execute

Institute

Orchestrate

Organize

Plan

Prioritize

Produce

Recommend

Review

Schedule

Supervise

Oce Support

Arrange

Balance

Chart

Complete

Coordinate

Dispense

Operate

Order

Organize

Prepare

Process

Schedule

Screen

Research

Analyze

Clarify

Collect

Critique

Decide

Dene

Diagnose

Evaluate

Examine

Extrapolate

Gather

Interpret

Interview

Investigate

Isolate

Manage

Measure

Monitor

Organize

Review

Survey

Synthesize

Trace

Write

Teaching

Adapt

Advise

Advocate

Brief

Clarify

Coach

Communicate

Coordinate

Counsel

Demonstrate

Develop

Enable

Encourage

Establish

Explain

Facilitate

Inuence

Inform

Initiate

Instruct

Invent

Persuade

Resolve

Stimulate

Train

Technical

Analyze

Chart

Compute

Conduct

Design

Devise

Fabricate

Forecast

Generate

Inspect

Install

Integrate

Modify

Operate

Prepare

Process

Program

Recongure

Repair

Restore

Revamp

Upgrade

Write

Other

Achieve

Adapt

Attend

Collaborate

Cooperate

Draft

Enlarge

Formulate

Implement

Improve

Initiate

Lead

Monitor

Preside

Resolve

Secure

Utilize

Your Guide:

RESUME CHECKLIST

OVERALL DOCUMENT FORMAT

□ Is the formatting consistent, not too much white space, and appropriate margins used (between .5” and 1.25”)?

□ Is the font size between 10-12pt, and used consistently? Is the typeface professional and easy to read?

□ Is the resume free of grammatical and spelling errors?

□ Do you use present tense for current positions and past tense for past experiences?

□ Is the document an appropriate length (one page suggested)?

□ Are content sections listed in order of what is most relevant, with Objective (optional) and Education at the top?

□ Are items within content sections listed in reverse chronological order?

□ Do you use short, concise statements and avoid using personal pronouns (I, me, my)?

CONTACT INFORMATION

□ Does the resume contain the necessary contact information? Did you provide your name, mailing address (permanent and/or local), email address,

phone number, LinkedIn URL?

OBJECTIVE (Optional)

□ Does the objective clearly describe the position or type of position you are seeking? Does it include what skills you seek to use/develop?

EDUCATION

□ Does this section begin with University of Maryland academic information? Degree, major/concentration, graduation or anticipated graduation date?

□ Are honors, academic scholarships and awards listed (if applicable)?

□ Are relevant courses, study abroad experience and research included?

□ Is GPA treated appropriately? Included if 3.0 or above, omitted if below 3.0.

EXPERIENCE SECTION(S)

□ Does each experience include position title, organization name, location and date/duration? Student, class and university included if the

experience was a course project?

□ Does the resume exclude all outdated experiences? Omitting high school information after your UMD sophomore year?

□ Do your bullet points start with strong action verbs?

□ Do your bullet points identify the knowledge, skills and abilities utilized in that position?

□ Do your bullet points eectively describe what you did, how you accomplished it, why the task was important, and/or what impact your

performance had within the organization?

□ Are your experiences described in ways that support your objective and do you use career eld specic language?

□ Do you include mention of the skills you possess in the way you describe your experiences (as featured in your skills section)?

□ Have you included keywords that are found in the job description?

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

□ Are relevant non-work experiences, lab skills, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, leadership roles, etc. included in an additional section?

□ Is your “Skills” section limited to technical and language skills relevant to the position that you are seeking?

REFERENCES

□ Does your resume exclude names of references or the phrase: “References available upon request”?

BOTTOM LINE

Overall, are you proud of the way your resume looks and reads? Have you made the key information easy to nd and understand? Can you provide a

rationale for each piece of information included (in terms of relevance)?

Lastly, the purpose of a resume is to obtain an interview. If you were an employer, would you want to interview the person represented

by this resume?

Samples of Work Experience

SPORTS STAFF

• Planned comprehensive sports curriculum for 100 campers

• Provided instruction in sporting techniques through eective

verbal communication and physical enactment

• Designed innovative approaches to ensure equal

participation of all involved campers

CAMP COUNSELOR

• Supervised a special-needs camper’s engagement in daily

camp activities

• Developed a specialized agenda and facilitated group

activities

• Received “Sta Member of the Session” award three times

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

• Selected for faculty research project with Undergraduate

Director of Government & Politics department

• Assembled comprehensive database of U.S. Supreme

Court briefs

• Analyzed approximately 1,500 Supreme Court Amicus

Curiae Briefs

• Recruited and scheduled over 20 students for research

experiments

• Coded and organized primary research results onto Excel

spreadsheets

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

• Directed phone calls and scheduled appointments

• Trained over 10 new student employees

• Communicated with customers to address inquiries,

researched accounts and recorded resolutions

RETAIL SERVICES

• Assured customer satisfaction and diused stressful

situations with customers

• Trained new employees on a touch screen computer

program for cashiers

• Presented promotional information and made

recommendations based on customer needs

TEACHING ASSISTANT

• Facilitated classroom discussions for two sections of 20

students each for Sociology of Gender course

• Graded quizzes and reective journals

• Met with students daily to answer questions and provide

feedback on papers and assignments

TALENT SCOUT ASSISTANT

• Initiated contact with up and coming artists for possible

representation

• Helped promote and distribute artists in both physical and

digital markets

• Reviewed and edited proofs of social media, advertisements

and other marketing projects

• Managed the benet Youth Concert Series that attracted

200 attendees

SALES ASSOCIATE/VISUALS COORDINATOR

• Aided customers in nding proper sizes, assembling outts

and nalizing purchases

• Represented the brand through personal presentation and

positive interactions

• Designed and constructed visual layouts including bust

forms, window displays, oor sets and lighting

SERVER

• Selected by management to train new servers on

operations and customer service

• Provided quality customer service in a fast-paced

environment (at least ve tables per hour)

RESIDENT ASSISTANT

• Planned three community development programs per

semester for 150 residents

• Referred residents to campus services and programs

• Gained crisis management and conict mediation skills

• Served as liaison between University residents and Resident

Life administrators

• Logged judiciary, maintenance and program evaluation

paperwork

STUDENT OFFICE ASSISTANT

• Provided administrative and programmatic support to oce

events

• Designed print and electronic promotional materials for

direct distribution and Twitter posts

• Coordinated AV and room set up for workshops and panels

• Greeted program attendees and processed event

registrations

• Responded to phone and email inquiries regarding events

and services

• Performed data management including evaluation

compilation and report generation

EXPERIENCES

Articulating

INTERNSHIP

Marketing Intern

ABC Agency, Washington, DC

• Strengthened Microsoft Excel skills by creating more ecient client

information database system

• Analyzed company’s young adult marketing campaign and created

comprehensive report on ndings

• Developed interactive presentation to present market research

ndings to marketing team

• Based on superior performance, invited to serve on management

team’s Intern Advisory Board

Potential Interview Questions:

• How did your technical skills improve while working at this internship?

• Based on this experience, do you see yourself working in the eld

after graduation? Why? Why not?

STUDY ABROAD

Education:

Accademia Italiana

Florence, Italy

Program of study: Italian language and Italian cultural studies

Related Experience:

English Language Teaching Assistant

Scuola Primeria San Pier Martire, Florence Italy

• Instructed English language to Italian students, ages 7-11

• Discussed aspects of United States culture, including American

holidays, sports, and school

Potential Interview Questions:

• Interact and communicate in Spanish with 4 roommates in living-

learning environment

• Research and discuss Spanish history, culture, literature, art, and

ideologies in a cluster of 20 students

LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITIES

Spanish Immersion Program Scholar

Language House Immersion Program, College Park, MD

• Interact and communicate in Spanish with 4 roommates in living-

learning environment

• Research and discuss Spanish history, culture, literature, art, and

ideologies in a cluster of 20 students

Potential Interview Questions:

• How does this living experience help you work with people from other

backgrounds?

• How do you handle conicts that may arise with peers who speak

other languages or have customs dierent from your own?

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Research Assistant/Lab Coordinator

Department of Psychology, College Park, MD

• Conducted research in the Interpersonal Relationships Lab,

translating basic science principles into therapeutic interventions

• Oversaw lab’s daily activities and 14 other undergraduate assistants,

and standardized all psychological measures used within the lab

• Surveyed participants in an attachment study and coded data

• Interviewed Research Assistant (RA) applicants for the next semester,

evaluated applications, and chose new RAs

Potential Interview Questions:

• What made you interested in working in a research lab?

• What skills have you gained from this research experience that you

plan on using if you are oered a job here?

LEADERSHIP

President

TerpThon, College Park, MD

• Coordinate Fall new member campaign; increased membership 15%

• Manage yearly budget of $8500; prepared proposal for student

government funding allocation

• Enhanced organizational skills by coordinating event logistics such as

scheduling volunteers, making room reservations, preparing meeting

agendas, and overseeing social media marketing eorts

Potential Interview Questions:

• How did you handle personality conicts with members of your

organization?

• How did you assess the success or failure of your events?

SERVICE LEARNING

Volunteer Tutor

Prince George’s County Public Schools Adelphi, MD

• Tutor elementary-aged students once a week in math and reading

• Design customized activities and games for students based on

individual needs

• Increase communication skills by discussing students’ progress with

teachers and parents

• Develop peer training program for new college-aged tutors

• Awarded Volunteer Tutor of the Year by peers, teachers, and

students, May 20XX

Potential Interview Questions:

• What did you learn about your communication skills while working

with parents, students, and teachers?

• How did you measure your level of success while tutoring and after

• tutoring your student(s)?

May - August 20XX

September - December 20XX

May 20XX - Present

August 20XX - Present

March - May 20XX

August 20XX - Present

Sample Resumes

UNDERGRADUATE

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sample resumes

Cameron Communication

123 Fake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21210

123-456-7891, fakeemail@umd.edu

EDUCATION

May 20XXUniversity of Maryland, College Park

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Relations Track)

 Intended Minor: Leadership

Baltimore High School, Baltimore, MD June 20XX

 Sonya Koveleski Award (May 2018), an award given to the top math student in the senior class

 GPA: 3.75

RELEVANT PROJECTS

Carillon Communities, University of Maryland, College Park September 20XX-Present

“Design My Maryland” Plan

 Create “Fearless Mission Statement” through iterative design process to gain vision for “Design My

Maryland” Plan

 Utilize online portfolio system to showcase communication and leadership skills developed through

creation of “Design My Maryland” Plan

COMM200: Critical Thinking and Speaking, University of Maryland, College Park September 20XX-Present

Fearless Leadership Presentation

 Present 20-minute speech on communication styles of effective leaders to educate fellow students

 Learn critical concepts in persuasive discourse analysis and composition in age of technology

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Terp & Eagle Science Club, University of Maryland, College Park September 20XX-Present

Tutor

 Assist 2-5 elementary student with science homework during weekly hour-long study sessions

 Coordinate with teachers to help provide additional lessons to struggling students

 Learn valuable skills in planning, organizing, and management in elementary education

Women’s Varsity Lacrosse, Baltimore High School January 20XX-May 20XX

Senior Captain

 Led team of 25 scholar-athletes to undefeated senior year by encouraging positive team dynamics

 Collaborated with two coaches to plan effective and fun practices daily

 Dedicated 10 hours of lacrosse practice and games with demanding course load

 Won Baltimore High School’s Distinguished Athletic Service Award during senior year

Koala Learning Camps, Travis, SD July 20XX-August 20XX

Counselor

 Taught math to 10 elementary school students at a local summer school a Native American Reservation

 Created mathematics lesson plans to raise comprehension and performance of struggling students

 Designed interactive games to encourage participation among students resistant to learning math

SKILLS

 Technology: Microsoft Word & PowerPoint, Google Drive

 Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Hootsuite

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sample resumes

Alina Science

502 Hunter Lane, College Park, MD 20740 (301)555-3141 ascience@umd.edu

EDUCATION

University of Maryland—College Park, MD Expected May 20XX

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

SKILLS

Programming Languages: C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C, Python, Java, OCaml

PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE

Adele H. Stamp Student Union Technology Services August 20XX–Present

Student Web Developer College Park, MD

● Develop and maintain various web applications utilizing C#, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C and Java for

multiple departments throughout a high-volume student union

● Communicate effectively with internal and external customers to execute project objectives, find

solutions and maintain functionality of web applications

● Collaborate with team members to effectively staff the department 10 hours per week while balancing a

full academic course load

Personal Project June 20XX–Present

Exercise App College Park, MD

● Develop app in Java using Android Studio IDE and Git for version control to track workouts and store

them in SQL database

● Program GUI using I/O manipulation to create customized exercise plans based on user input

[Name of Class] Feb–Apr 20XX

Food Website Project College Park, MD

● Built check-out process for web application using Ruby on Rails and jQuery

● Designed an interactive map feature for users to submit locations, using FireBase and Canvas layer for

Google Maps JavaScript API

[Name of Class] Sep–Dec 20XX

Over-the-sand Vehicle Project

College Park, MD

● Led a team of 3 students to design, build, and test autonomous over-sand vehicle

● Completed designs in 3-D CAD, printed, and constructed the vehicle

● Contributed autonomous code [that did x and y]

● Co-wrote and presented 9-page design report with design drawings

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Managing People and Organizations May–Jul 20XX

Consulting Case Team Member College Park,

● Completed human resources consulting project with a team of five for a campus department

● Analyzed organizational performance, designed survey and interview protocol

● Analyzed survey results, described numerical and qualitative findings, presented to 12 peers

● Proposed improvements to client in collaboration with team, co-wrote and edited project report

Home Depot Aug 20XX–Jan 20XX

Shift Manager, Cashier Hyattsville, MD

● Provided excellent customer service and public relations, worked and communicated with the team to

maintain cleanliness and service for customers

● Supervised 5 cashiers per shift and trained 8 new cashiers

Sample Resumes

FEDERAL

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sample resumes

Sample Resumes

GRADUATE

Sample Cover Letters

Sample Correspondence

Sample Cover Letters

Your Address

City, State ZIP Code

Date

Name

Title

Employer

Street Address

City, State ZIP Code

Dear ________________:

First Paragraph: Be enthusiastic and indicate your reason for writing (i.e.,

the specific position, type of work). Tell how you learned of the opening. (If

referred by someone—professor, relative, former employer, etc.—it is a good

idea to mention that person’s name and that s/he suggested you write.) State

reason(s) for your interest in the position and/or the organization.

Second Paragraph: If you recently graduated, explain how your academic

background makes you qualified for the position. If you have related

experience, point out specific achievements or unique qualifications. DO NOT

REPEAT THE SAME INFORMATION FOUND IN THE RESUME. This is a good

place to mention ADDITIONAL information not stated in your resume. Tell

them why you are particularly interested in their organization. Say something

about their website or something you have seen in a publication by the

organization.

Third Paragraph (may be combined with second paragraph): Refer to the

enclosed resume, which summarizes your qualifications, training and

experience.

Final Paragraph: Indicate your desire for a personal interview to further

discuss how your background and interests fit the needs of the organization.

Recognizing that the reader will be receiving more than just your resume,

assume the responsibility for the next step—“I will call your office next week

to see if a mutually convenient time can be arranged.” (And then do it!) In the

interim, restate your contact information (telephone number(s) and email

address(es)) and your accessibility to provide any further supportive

information (e.g., references, portfolio, writing samples, etc.). Thank the

reader for their time and consideration of your qualifications.

Sincerely,

(Sign your name)

Your Name (Typed)

Email and/or phone number

123 Elm Street

College Park, MD 20740

April 1, 20XX

Nicole Thomas

Director, Quality Control

Merck & Company, Inc.

410 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Dear Ms. Thomas:

At the University of Maryland Fall Career Fair, I had the opportunity

to speak with a recruiter and learn about the entry-level Quality

Control position available with Merck & Company, Inc. I will

graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics,

specializing in statistics. My interest in corporate production and

plant management has prompted me to contact you about this

opportunity.

As you can see from my resume, my production internship with Kraft

Foods last summer included valuable experience in both quality

control and operations management. I have also taken many

related courses, which I’m certain will provide a strong theoretical

foundation for employment in this area. These courses include

Applied Research Methods, Business Statistics, Collective

Bargaining and Operations Management. I have also been active in

many business-related campus activities. My self-motivation and

independent work ethic, along with my aptitude for statistics, make

me a strong candidate for this position.

I am eager to meet with you to further discuss this exciting opportunity.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding next steps in the process.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jason Vincent

[email protected]

240-222-2226

000 Third Street

College Park, MD 20740

January 13, 20XX

Ms. Sarah Jones

Director of Marketing

United Widget Corporation

000 Maple Avenue

Orlando, FL 32821

Dear Ms. Jones,

I am happy to accept your offer to join the United Widget

Corporation’s new product development department at a starting

salary of $38,000 per year.

Thank you for your assistance with my relocation to central Florida;

your help will certainly make my transition to southern living quite

smooth. As requested, I will keep receipts for reimbursement

purposes.

I will report to your office on February 7, 20XX, eager to contribute to

the new product development department and UWC.

Sincerely,

Linda Smith

[email protected]

3543 Larchwood Drive

Silver Spring, MD 21103

June 14, 20XX

Ms. Leslie A. Jones

Personnel Director

Fielder Associates

2341 18th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20003

Dear Ms. Jones:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday regarding

the Youth Services vacancy at your organization. The interview

strengthened my enthusiasm for the position and interest in working

for your growing organization.

As I had mentioned, my part-time work and internship experiences

in scheduling activities and organizing programs would seem a good

background for the position. In addition, I believe my energy and

rapport in working with youth would aid in the success of the

program.

Please contact me at 301.256.1321 if you need additional

information. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Leonard S. Goodyear

[email protected]

GUIDE FOR COVER LETTERS

SAMPLE THANK-YOU LETTER SAMPLE LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

GUIDE FOR COVER LETTERS

SAMPLE COVER LETTER