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The tools and advice you receive from UMGC Career Services (e.g., advising sessions, informational sessions, webinars, and virtual career fairs, etc.) are intended to assist you on your career journey. Career development and career exploration is a lifelong process that is intended to be nurtured and not rushed. UMGC understands this concept which is why they provide lifelong access to career support. Continue below for tips on how to leverage your career fair prep in your ongoing job search.  

Know Your Why

It is important to have a polished resume and a clear and concise cover letter. However, it is also essential that you can communicate your skill sets and possible gaps to employers.  

Know what skills and qualifications you have that make you eligible for a position and understand where your skills gaps might be. Be prepared to discuss with a potential employer why you chose to apply with their company, and why you chose to pursue your specific degree or certification. This information will help you stand out! 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Continue to practice and refine your interviewing skills. has resources to prepare for your next interview. This tool will help you conduct mock interviews and watch your responses to pinpoint areas of improvement, practice interviewing with industry specific questions, and share with your network for feedback. Additionally, provides feedback on your interviewing skills based off your body language, gestures, enunciations, and content. 

Get Connected

If you are transitioning careers or looking to breaking into a field, conduct an Informational Interview with someone in the industry or field to learn more about any specific certifications or skills that you will need. Networking is an on-going activity that can be done both in-person or virtually. Check out for opportunities to volunteer, find career launch opportunities, or part-time or temporary jobs that can increase your network. 

Stay Connected

Follow-up with employers and recruiters that you interact with at recruiting events. Use the employers  as a starting point to build or increase your network. Follow these companies on LinkedIn to stay up to date with their trends and employment opportunities. Continue to monitor UMGC’s  within CareerQuest. You can research open positions by location, industries, job type, etc., and you have the option to set search alerts. Lastly, to check out the Career Services events and webinars so you are always in the know of the latest best practices in career development.

Raelynn F. Grasso is a Career Advising Specialist at the University of Maryland Global Campus. She has experience leading and providing individual, group, and career counseling as well as executing and developing programs to enhance college student enrichment. Grasso’s area of research includes career decision-making, epistemic cognition, self-efficacy, and college student development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Utah, a Master of Science in Education Psychology, and is a PhD candidate in Educational Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.