University Career Center & The President's Promise (UCC/TPP)

3100 Hornbake Library, South Wing
Phone: 301-314-7225
UCC-studenthelp@umd.edu
http://careers.umd.edu 
Follow us on social media: @UMDCareerCenter

Director: Allynn Powell

The University Career Center & the President’s Promise (UCC) supports the university’s mission and academic programs by providing comprehensive programs and services to meet the diverse career development needs of degree-seeking students. The Center teaches and advises students to explore career interests, develop skills to navigate the search process, and collaborates with academic departments, employers, and alums to implement innovative opportunities for experiential learning and industry connections. All students are encouraged to engage the Center early and often for guidance related to internships and co-curricular experiences aligned to their academic endeavors. Visit the UCC's website and social media for more information about resources and services.

We Can Help You:

  • Address educational and career decisions
  • Take advantage of internships, full-time, part-time and summer employment opportunities
  • Sharpen job search skills and strategies, including improving resume and cover letters
  • Plan for graduate and professional school

A Network of Support

Located in the South Wing of Hornbake Library, the Center serves as a campus hub of career-related activities. We also distribute staff to locations in the following schools and colleges:

Distributed staff provide advising and programming that targets industries and professional fields related to majors in their respective host school or college. Students may access resources, services, and programs based on their career interests and immediate needs.

The Center partners with other campus career operations, including:

Handshake & Other Online Resources 

Update your Handshake profile to manage your career. Handshake is the Center's online career management database and your gateway to:

  • Applying to 1,000+ internships, part-time job, and full-time job postings
  • Scheduling career advising appointments and signing up for workshops, panels, and employer programs
  • Accessing virtual resources: Focus2 (self-assessment), Vault (industry guides), Big Interview (virtual interviewing practice), Mentra (Job search platform designed for neurodivergent job seekers with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences), and more.

Career Assistance

Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a career advisor or undergraduate Peer Career Educator through Handshake. Topics may include:

  • 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

Terrapins Connect is the university’s virtual platform that connects Terps from across the world with one another for mentoring, networking, and professional opportunities | http://terrapinsconnect.umd.edu

Career Courses

EDCP108I: College and Career Advancement: Concepts and Skills; Academic Transitions to Internships • 1 credit
This half-semester (7 weeks) course is recommended for students who have never had an internship and are actively searching for one. The online asynchronous course takes students through key exploratory and preparation activities, including understanding the components of an internship, increasing knowledge about an intended career field, developing a resume and cover letter, and identifying potential internship sites.

PSYC123: The Psychology of Getting Hired • 1 credit
This online asynchronous course introduces students to the psychological principles involved in the hiring processes. Students pace themselves through modules that combine academic content with hands-on activities, online discussions, and deliverable materials. Two in-person activities—a resume review and a mock interview—occur in the Center.

Employer Hiring Events

The Center offers several hiring events during the fall and spring for UMD students and alumni from all academic backgrounds to connect with employers. Some hiring events include:

  • 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

Workshops, Panels & Other Programs

The Center regularly offers 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.

Identity-Based Programs, including the “Working While Black Career Series”, 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