By Sam Draddy
For The Diamondback
University of Maryland students explored different employment options at Stamp Student Union on Thursday during a virtual question and answer session with the various Stamp departments.
The session, hosted by Stamp’s human resources department, marked the second opportunity this year. Twenty-five students were able to discuss jobs at Stamp and what they had to offer.
The event allowed students to join different breakout rooms in which departments from Stamp outlined their roles in the student union and allowed for questions regarding job descriptions and what they were looking for in their applicants. Previous employees also spoke about their experiences working within their respective departments.
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Marinel Martinez, a human resources coordinator at Stamp, oversaw the event and paired students with the departments they wanted to speak to. Each department had its own breakout room where students could ask questions. Martinez said she wanted the information session to provide a space for students to network with different supervisors and ask any questions they had before filling out a job application.
“I am hoping that students will look at the applications and come to this event prepared with target questions about the application process and their specific units,” Martinez said. “I’m hoping that they understand that they can apply to many jobs, and that they’re welcome to do so and that we encourage it.”
A variety of Stamp’s departments were represented in the session, including IT, the Office of Student Engagement, Studio A and the Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office. The departments were able to answer students’ questions as they moved from room to room.
The university’s Student Organization Resources Center breakout room was filled with seven students for the majority of the information session. The SORC supports student organizations ranging from athletic clubs to multicultural organizations and social sororities and fraternities.
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“There’s something for everybody. I think there’s a lot of opportunity in our office. I think, in terms of gaining skills, like real-life skills that you can take out to almost any job, I think we’re full of those,” said Valerie LaHoud, the business manager for SORC. “It looks great on a resume.”
Ryan Tanzil, a senior finance and information systems major at this university, spoke about his previous experience working for SORC finance services, giving potential applicants more of an idea of what a student on the job would be doing.
“It’s just a good way of expanding your network, and you also get to learn a lot about clubs,” Tanzil said. “You’re supporting the student organizations that are really enriching the student experience, but they really wouldn’t be able to do what they do without our office. So in that way you’re kind of closing that loop.”
Stamp has many jobs available, with the last job opening closing in August.
