Career Resources for INFO Students

Get started by joining UMD’s Handshake (external link, opens in a new tab) to explore job & internships, career resources, events, and more.

Discover the different career paths that align with your passions and academic interests.

1. Think about your general interests and passions, both in and out of school.
2. Take career assessments:
   • PathwayU (via Handshake (external link, opens in a new tab)) – platform that acts as a career compass that guides you in discovering education and career pathways that fit your unique interests and values.
   • Focus2 (via Handshake (external link, opens in a new tab)) – a guided exploration tool that can help you better understand what major or career would be most fulfilling to you.
3. Use career exploration tools:
   • Vault (in Handshake (external link, opens in a new tab)) – career guide with industry insights, job titles, salaries, and more.
   • ONet (external link, opens in a new tab) – job descriptions and integrated job board.
4. Talk to advisors about course options related to your interests.
5. Learn from career professionals:
   • Attend career events: Career chats, career channels, alumni panels, workshops, “career shuttles” (Handshake).
   • Talk to faculty.
   • Explore alumni profiles.
   • Connect with alumni on Terrapins Connect (external link, opens in a new tab).
   • Register for the Intern For a Day (external link, opens in a new tab) program.
6. Discover additional career resources (external link, opens in a new tab), such as major selection and industry paths.

Build real-world experience that will make your resume stand out to potential employers.

1. Find internships, and build professional connections:
   • Use job boards like Handshake (external link, opens in a new tab), Dice.com (external link, opens in a new tab), Wellfound (external link, opens in a new tab), LinkedIn (external link, opens in a new tab), UXcel (external link, opens in a new tab), and Dribbble (external link, opens in a new tab) —other platforms can also be useful!
   • Develop a targeted search strategy within your field.
     • Identify companies to apply directly.2
     • Join professional associations.
     • Easily track your internship applications with this free tool [Google Form].
   • Engage in networking:
     • Add this Informational Interviewing resource to your ELMS (external link, opens in a new tab) to learn about how to 1) identify professionals to connect with and 2) conduct meaningful networking conversations with them.
     • Use Terrapins Connect (external link, opens in a new tab) and the LinkedIn Alumni Tool (external link, opens in a new tab).
     • Network in your Capstone class.
   • Attend recruiting events (external link, opens in a new tab).
   • Check with your major or graduate program to learn about potential internship opportunities.
   • Check out these Internship Tips from other INFO Undergraduate Students
2. Build relevant skills:
   • Use LinkedIn Learning (external link, opens in a new tab), MOOCs (external link, opens in a new tab), DataCamp (external link, opens in a new tab), W3 Schools (external link, opens in a new tab), Leetcode (external link, opens in a new tab), and TutorialsPoint (external link, opens in a new tab).
3. Get involved:
   • Join clubs and organizations via TerpLink (external link, opens in a new tab) or INFO Student Orgs/Clubs.
   • Participate in INFOthons like InfoChallenge and bitcamp (external link, opens in a new tab).
   • Volunteer for events and opportunities.
4. Explore research opportunities:
   • Engage in research through the INFO Undergrad Research page, INFO Research Groups, or the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) (external link, opens in a new tab).

Prepare for success by mastering essential job application skills like resume writing and interview techniques.

1. Workshops and trainings (external link, opens in a new tab) include:
   • How to Search for an Internship or Job
   • How to Evaluate & Negotiate Job Offers
   • How to Prepare for an Interview
   • How to Build Your Network
   • How to Prepare for a Career & Internship Fair
2. Self-guided training resources:
   • UCC’s Find Jobs & Internships (external link, opens in a new tab)
   • ELMS (external link, opens in a new tab)
   • LinkedIn Learning (external link, opens in a new tab)
3. How to pitch yourself as an INFO student: (Coming soon from INFO Communications)

Launch your job search with strategic tools, networking, and professional connections to land the perfect opportunity.

1. Job boards:
   • Use job boards like Handshake (external link, opens in a new tab), Dice.com (external link, opens in a new tab), Wellfound (external link, opens in a new tab), LinkedIn (external link, opens in a new tab), UXcel (external link, opens in a new tab), and Dribbble (external link, opens in a new tab)—other platforms can also be useful!
   • Make sure to track your job applications as you go! You can use and adapt this tool to help you.
2. Develop a targeted search strategy within your field.
   • Identify companies to apply directly.
3. Join professional associations.
4. Engage in networking:
   • Schedule informational interviews (ELMS (external link, opens in a new tab)).
   • Use Terrapins Connect (external link, opens in a new tab) and the LinkedIn Alumni Tool (external link, opens in a new tab).
   • Network in your Capstone class.
5. Attend upcoming INFO career events and UMD career events (external link, opens in a new tab).
6. Participate in networking events in the DC-Metro Area
   • DC Analytics Meetup (external link, opens in a new tab)– DC Analytics Meetup is a community for analytics enthusiasts to network, share insights, and explore topics like big data, predictive analytics, and social media analytics through monthly presentations and demos.
   • Data Science DC (external link, opens in a new tab)– Data Science DC is a nonprofit professional group that hosts monthly meetings on predictive analytics, machine learning, and data visualization, welcoming professionals, students, and enthusiasts to learn, network, and share their work.
   • Data Visualization DC (external link, opens in a new tab)– Data Visualization DC is a nonprofit professional group that brings together data journalists, scientists, and business intelligence experts for monthly discussions on data visualization, storytelling, and best practices.