Qualities Employers Are Seeking: From the Perspective of
the University Career Center & the President’s Promise Intern
The Criminal Justice Career & Internship fair was held
on March 13th, 2013 in the Stamp, co-sponsored by the CJSA and the University
Career Center & the President’s Promise. A wide variety of employers
attended the fair including police departments, correctional officers, and
government agencies. I spoke with the following employers to ask exactly
what kinds of qualities they look for: Department of Public Safety &
Correctional Service, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group Claims Department, Laurel
Police Department, Six Flags, UMD Department of Public Safety, Princeton
Review, The Choice Program and SOS International Ltd.
Here are some qualities employers are seeking in bachelor
degree candidates:
•
true interest in the position/field
•
age, educational or experience requirements
•
self-motivation
•
analytical
•
attention to detail
•
ability to multi-task
•
willingness to help
•
adaptability
•
problem solving
•
speaking skills
•
writing skills
If you’re feeling apprehensive about how to articulate these
skills for an employer or need help gaining useful experiences, schedule a
Career Assistance appointment with the University Career Center & the
President’s Promise (http://careers.umd.edu/map/OASYS/).
You’ll gain tips on how to describe your internship, in class or volunteer
experiences.
Whether a freshman or a senior, if you have even the
slightest interest in a criminal justice career I would highly recommend
attending this annual fair. There’s nothing to lose but maybe an hour of
your time, and a promising variety of opportunities to gain. The employers I
spoke with were eager to share information about their positions and very
pleased to be recruiting UMD students. They are extremely friendly and
they actually WANT to talk to you! Oh and don’t forget, always dress
professionally and have your resume ready when you attend a fair or any
employer networking event to ensure you make a great first impression!
