California Capital Fellows Program
The Capital Fellows Program offers experiences in policy-making and development in each branch of California state government. Fellows spend 10-11 months as part of a cohort working with state legislators, senior-level executive staff, and court administrators with a broad range of public policy issues and projects and are typically given assignments with a significant amount of responsibility and challenges.
All Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $2,964, as well as medical, dental and vision benefits; fully-paid enrollment and earn six graduate units; student loan deferment; and, upon successful completion of the fellowship, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Policy and Government.
Deadline: February 7, 2022
More details and apply here: https://www.csus.edu/center/center-california-studies/capital-fellows/
Intern at the Pentagon with alumna
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs is hiring Summer 2022 interns. Exact start date is flexible but would be either end of May or early June. Students will need to undergo the clearance process before beginning due to the fact that the internship is in-person at the Pentagon.
Primary Duties:
- Interns will get placed one of the following teams or be assigned to multiple: Strategic Communications, Personnel & Readiness, Research & Engineering, or Acquisition & Sustainment.
- Interns on any team will assist in preparing, fact-checking, and editing products for the office. Examples included: Drafting recaps of congressional hearings, creating talking points for calls with Senate/House leaders, info memos for the Assistant Secretary of Defense.
- Collect information to include in the 90-day congressional forecast. Maintain Senate/House Face Charts and work on special projects as directed by the respective Team Chief.
- Update the Projected Legislative Calendar; working with other team chiefs to determine priorities list for the office.
- Research Senate/House members and create memos regarding their political views and recent media appearances. Tracking social media.
Of Note:
- This is an unpaid internship. No stipend or housing provided.
Qualifications
- College freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to apply.
- Prior legislative internship experience or political campaign experience is desired, but not required.
- Send resume to: elsa dot m dot alvarado2 dot civ@mail dot mil Elsa Alvarado is a Midd alumna
Timeline
- Deadline to apply is January 14
- Interviews will occur in Jan 2022.
- Final cohort selected in Feb 2022.
Internships, Resumes, and Informational Interviews!
Three workshops this week will teach you how to find a summer internship, how to create or improve your resume, and how to navigate interviews and networking conversations.
CCI events to get you ready for your summer internship or job search:
Find and Fund your Summer Internship
Tues, Jan. 11, 4:30-5:30 pm, Zoom Webinar
Considering an internship this summer? This workshop will walk you through how to find an internship and discuss CCI’s grants for unpaid summer internships.
Register and access link in Handshake
This webinar will be recorded so if you can’t attend, please register via link above and the recording will be sent to you.
Resume Tips and Tricks
Wed, Jan. 12, 4:30 pm-5:30 pm, Axinn 229
Is your resume ready to apply to summer jobs, internships, or CCI’s summer internship funding? CCI’s Peer Career Advisors will teach you their top tips and tricks for creating a resume or taking your current one from good to great!
Register and access link in Handshake
After attending this workshop, get your resume approved at Quick Questions and be entered to win a $500 airline gift card!
Attend this event co-sponsored by CCI, MiddCore, and Compass to get you ready for important informational and networking conversations that can lead to internships, jobs, and clarity on future career paths.
Cultivating Relationships: The Art of the Informational Interview
Tuesday, January 11, 3:00-4:00 pm via Zoom
Do you have nerves around interviewing and outreach? Want to put your best foot forward in an interview? After a successful start to a career in sales, Amelia Howard ’19.5 will share a framework and best practices for taking the lead in professional conversations. With Amelia’s support, build skills, strategies, and confidence to make lasting professional connections this winter and beyond.
Presented by Amelia Howard ‘19.5 | Account Executive, Gong | Co-sponsored by CCI, MiddCore & Compass
Register and access Zoom link and password
The Center for Community Engagement presents a Winter Term Workshop: Social Justice with Community Partners
The Center for Community Engagement is hosting a series of 3 Winter Term Workshops focusing on Social Justice in Community Engagement, and they’d love to have you join them!
Their goal is to create a co-learning space to advance social justice and build community between Middlebury College faculty and staff, Middlebury students, and Addison County non-profit organizations and social service agencies.
If you are interested in joining one or more sessions, RSVP here!
Here are the sessions and dates:
Understanding Power and Privilege
January 14, 2-3:30 pm
On Zoom
Social Identity and Intersectionality
January 21, 2-3:30 pm
On Zoom
Ethical, Strengths-Based Community Engagement
January 28, 2-3:30pm
On Zoom
RSVP link: https://forms.gle/F6ws9oEuDCNp2Qup7
Win a $500 airline gift card by completing the CCI résumé approval process!
You read that correctly! CCI is offering a $500 AIRLINE GIFT CARD just for completing the résumé approval process.
The Center for Careers and Internships has brought back our annual résumé approval campaign that culminates in a drawing for a $500 airline gift card!
All you have to do to enter is complete your Handshake profile and have your résumé reviewed and approved by a CCI Peer Career Advisor (PCA) – (go/PCAs for their drop in hours to have your résumé reviewed.) The earlier you complete your profile and have an approved résumé, the more chances you will have to win!
To be entered to win, login to Handshake and complete these steps:
- Complete your Handshake profile by:
- Adding at least one Work Experience (volunteer experience counts!)
- Adding at least one Extracurricular Activity (high school activities are OK!)
- Adding at least one skill.
- Completing all questions on the “Career Interests” page (click on YourName>Career Interests)
- Have your résumé reviewed and approved by a Peer Career Advisor (PCA)
- Upload your approved résumé to Handshake.
- Be automatically entered into 7 weekly drawings for Middlebury Money and a grand prize of ONE $500 airline gift card.
Drawings will be held on the following days: Monday 12/13; Fridays, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/18, 2/25, and 3/4. There will be six $20 Middlebury Money gift cards and the seventh drawing is for the Grand Prize of the $500 flight gift card.
Need help creating your first résumé? Check out go/résumé which includes the CCI Resume and Cover Letter Guide, a 7-minute How to Create Your First College Resume video, and Sample Resumes.
Our PCAs are available to review resumes and Handshake profiles during Quick Questions hours. Visit go/PCAs for the QQ schedule and locations.
Senior Career Action Group: Conducting Your Job Search
Whether you are not quite sure where to start or are in the middle of your search, the CCI and your peers can help arm you with the tools to succeed.
Our Senior Career Action Group is for you if you are a senior graduating in February or May 2022 and are beginning or actively engaged in searching for a meaningful job opportunity.
Join the Senior Career Action Group where you will find structure, motivation, and tools for conducting your job search. You will focus on developing strategies and skills while engaging with professional experts and your peers on navigating this exciting transition.
Meetings will take place this January on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Hillcrest 103 from 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. on the following dates: 1/10, 1/12, 1/14, 1/17, 1/19, 1/21, 1/24, 1/26, 1/28
Contact Tracy Himmel Isham or Ursula Olender for more information.
Disability:IN’s NextGen Leader Initiatives consists of a six-month mentorship program for college students and recent graduates with disabilities – Deadline date: January 7, 2022
Our program connects NextGen Leaders to experienced professionals from our corporate partners, creating supportive relationships to navigate the job search. We want our mentees to gain as many corporate connections as possible by the time they leave this program, but there is no guarantee that our NextGen Leaders will get a job offer during the program.
This online application must be completed by January 7, 2022, by 11:59pm ET.
Eligibility:
To participate in the 2022 NextGen Leader Initiatives, you must:
- Be an undergraduate student, law student, graduate student, or recent graduate (graduated no earlier than 2020) from a US college or university
- Self-identify as an individual with any type of disability
- Individuals that are not US citizens are welcome to participate in this program if they 1) are a current student at or recent graduate of US college or university and 2) have the proper work authorization documents.
Click here to learn more and to apply!
Advice to Winter Term Interns
1. Go into your internship informed
If you haven’t already done so, do some research on the company you’re interning for. Find out more about their work ethic and their values to see how you can fit in best. Through your research, you may also find some projects that you’re interested in to later express to your employer.
2. Set goals for yourself
Since this is such a short time-period to have an internship, make sure to go in with an idea of what you want to learn, what you want to accomplish, and maybe have an idea of what your plans are after the internship. The best way to do this is to find your passion and think about what you are most interested in learning about. Once you figure this out, make sure to physically write your goals down. This will help keep you on your toes and recenter you if you ever feel yourself getting overwhelmed.
3. Ask questions
Asking questions will not only make you look more connected to the company, but it is also the best way to get the most out of your internship. Don’t ask questions just to ask them though; make sure that you are asking questions that are of use. By doing so, you express your interest in the work you are doing and the company itself. Being curious will also make you learn more than you would have if you did not become further involved.
4. Adopt an optimistic attitude
The intensity and short time-period of a winter term internship can sometimes make it feel demanding and draining. If this happens or the internship is not exactly what you had hoped for, pause and think about the aspects of your internship that you love the most. If you love your work, your performance will show it. In addition, think about what you can learn from the opportunity even if it isn’t the perfect match for you – what skills can you develop, what learning can you take with you, what insights have you gleaned? These tips can allow you to adopt an optimistic attitude and take full advantage of the experience.
5. Develop relationships
The network you build throughout your life will be one of the most helpful tools you’ll ever have. While you may doubt how necessary some of your connections are, it may surprise you how useful they will be to you. These contacts may end up writing letters of recommendation, offering advice on your future career, becoming a mentor, or simply being someone to talk to. Don’t be afraid to take the first step and introduce yourself! You never know if that person can be your future employer or your key into graduate school someday.
6. Organization is key
Make sure to keep track of your deadlines and the projects you have to complete. The worst thing you can do is make your supervisor doubt your abilities when you forget to turn in something because you mixed up the dates! Keep notes during meetings and in general to not forget anything of major importance; a great way to do this is by keeping a journal. Also, by being organized, you are much more likely to manage your time more wisely and enjoy the other exciting aspects of J-Term like skiing!
7. Reflect
Take some time to reflect on the skills that you’ve gained and all that you’ve done, both during the internship and afterwards. Often after completing an internship, we tend to quickly seek the next experience. In doing so, we fail to acknowledge all that we’ve just finished accomplishing. Make sure to sit down after an internship and think of all you’ve learned so you can take those developed skills onto your next experience. As in the previous tip, you could also do this by keeping a journal of everything you think has been notable. Another important thing to do while you’re reflecting is to write down all of your responsibilities in your resume as it may be more difficult if you wait to include them until the next time you apply for something.
8. Take initiative
If you’ve finished a project you were assigned, it may be tempting to sit back and relax but try to fight this urge. It will make you a memorable and dependable intern if you show that you are motivated to take on more responsibility. Another aspect to taking initiative is sharing any ideas for improvement that you may have. Don’t be afraid to speak up! Your employer will likely see this as you wanting to get more involved in the organization, which may help you in obtaining an employment offer or further developing your relationship with the employer.
9. Be your own advocate
Being a student causes us to place pressures on ourselves to turn in everything on time and never make a mistake, however, we are still human. If you are feeling overwhelmed with all that you are tasked with, explain your situation to your employer. Communication is key in any internship or job! Your supervisors want you to do the best work that you can, and if you are rushing to finish a project, it will show.
10. Be professional
Treat this internship like it is a month-long interview for your dream job. When you begin to think of it this way, dressing professionally, being punctual, and having proper etiquette all tend to come naturally. Whether your internship is in-person or virtual, all of these are still extremely applicable. You should make sure to abide by dress codes and dress for the role you want, always show up slightly early and if you are late, make sure to communicate this with your employer.
The author of this article, Cindy Cardona ’22, is a Biology major and Sociology minor who will be attending veterinary school after graduation. Cindy is a Peer Career Advisor at the Center for Careers and Internships.
Hiring Engagement Fellows for J-Term and Spring!
Are you interested in serving as a CCI ambassador, helping to share CCI programs and resources with fellow students and positively contribute to the CCI brand and mission?
Do you have some experience with marketing and promotion -OR- a passion for social media campaign strategies, creation, and content ideation?
Are you a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior who wants to help prepare students to translate their Middlebury experience into a successful pursuit of their post-graduate goals?
Then consider applying to be a Peer Career Engagement Fellow !
Connect with Midd Alums at the International Politics and Economics (IPEC) Field Guide On December 9-10, 2021
On December 9-10, alumni return for the INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND ECONOMICS FIELD GUIDE.
Join us for the panel Thursday night at 5:00 p.m. in Hillcrest 103, The Orchard to hear how these alumni went from campus to career!
They can help you answer the question, “What can I do with my IPEC major?” At these events, you will have the chance to connect with alumni, faculty, and other students.
IPEC Event Overview
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Career Panel, 5:00 p.m. in Hillcrest 103, The Orchard, Franklin Environmental Center
Sign up in Handshake.
Friday, December 10, 2021
One-on-One Career Chats
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
via Zoom and in person (full bios links to schedule available below)
Sebastian R. Astrada ‘02
Director/AVP of Financial Institution Formations + Transactions at US Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Sebastian in Handshake
Sebastian leads the Financial Institution Formations + Transactions team at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He manages a team of five supervisory analysts that process applications and notices from banks and fintechs in the 12th District. Prior to this role, he managed regulatory affairs for Capital One’s global finance, digital, and technology functions, and led regulatory policy on emerging technology topics that ran the gamut from blockchain and machine learning to cybersecurity and open banking. Before joining Capital One, he was a senior attorney at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System where he advised on mergers and acquisitions in addition to participating in Dodd-Frank rule makings.
Chinyere W. Amadi Dufour ‘10
Senior Evaluation Officer at National Research Council Canada
Chinyere is currently the Senior Evaluation Officer at the National Research Council on Canada. Her job entails leading program evaluations and providing technical advice and recommendations to departmental staff and senior management on organizational performance priorities, results measurement, program development, program implementation and adaptive management.
She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Carleton University and a Bachelor’s degree (honors) in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College in Vermont, USA. She is also a proud alumna of Lester B. Pearson United World College, where she had the privilege of living, studying and fostering relationships with over 200 change makers from over 90 countries.
Over the course of her career, she has collaborated with multiple stakeholders at all levels of organizational structures and across a wide variety of sectors in North America, The Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Asia. She is bilingual with excellent written and oral communication skills in English and intermediate skills in French.
She considers herself to be a global citizen as she has roots in several countries. She currently resides in Ottawa, Canada with her husband and two young sons.
Douglas Gledhill ‘14
Senior Consultant at EY-Parthenon
Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Doug in Handshake
Doug was a 2014 IPEC major and currently works as a consultant at EY-Parthenon in Boston. He just graduated from Yale University in May 2021 with an MBA and an MA in Global Affairs. He has worked for Amazon.com in operations finance, the Eurasia Group as a political risk strategy consultant, and is hoping to specialize in tech policy work while at EY-Parthenon.
He speaks Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese, all of which he studied at Middlebury.
Connect with Doug on Midd2Midd.
Martina Szabo ‘12
Lead for Strategy and Transformation at World Economic Forum
Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Martina in Handshake
Martina has been with the World Economic Forum since 2016. She is currently Lead, Strategy and Transformation for the Global Programming Group and a Global Leadership Fellow. In 2020-21, Martina established and led business engagement and strategy for the COVID Action Platform. Prior to this, she built and led partnerships with companies from Europe and North America, particularly in the Healthcare and Consumer industries. Martina has previous experience as a strategy consultant focused on developing and sustaining public-private partnerships to advance global health. She has her Master of Public Health from Columbia University and BA in International Politics and Economics and Philosophy from Middlebury College.
Carolyn Weir ‘11
Executive Director at J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation
Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Carolyn in Handshake
Carolyn is the executive director of the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, a Vermont-based foundation that envisions a Vermont where college and career training creates greater equity and resilience. The McClure Foundation is an affiliate of the Vermont Community Foundation, where Carolyn contributes to grantmaking and community investment efforts as a senior philanthropic advisor. Prior to her work with both foundations, she was employed in anti-poverty and community economic development efforts at nonprofits in Vermont and New York. She and her husband and son live a few minutes from the Middlebury College campus.