Charles River Associates Summer Networking Events
Join one (or more!) of our virtual events this summer to connect with CRA. This series is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students interested in a career in consulting.
Colleagues from our different practice areas will offer a behind-the-scenes look into the types of consulting we do at CRA. Along with a brief overview of CRA, at each event we will host an overview on practice areas that would be applicable based on your major/area of discipline and audience Q&A on the employee experience at CRA.
Check out the full schedule of 6 events here. First one is July 7!
Intro to Consulting Series hosted by McIntire School of Commerce at UVA
Join us for the University of Virginia’s Summer Consulting Series hosted by the McIntire School of Commerce Graduate Programs.
Led by Brendan Boler, these workshops will provide an overview of what case interviewing is and how students can practice before the kick‐off of interview season, while running through interactive case interviews in real time.
Use the registration link to see all of the workshop sessions. Once you’re there, use the RSVP button to sign up for each session you’d like to attend. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
https://consulting-series.mcintire.virginia.edu/
Event Dates & Times:
Session 1 – Tuesday, June 29, 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Session 2 – Tuesday, July 6, 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Session 3 – Tuesday, July 13, 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Session 4 – Tuesday July 20, 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Hiring Engagement Fellows for the 2021-2022 Academic Year!
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 for the 2021-2022 Academic year!
Finance Events & Upcoming Internship and Job Deadlines
The following opportunities are currently posted in Handshake. APPLY EARLY! Interviews are offered on a rolling basis, usually before the deadline! Positions may be removed from Handshake before a deadline occurs.
June 4
- Internship – 2022 Summer Equity Research Associate Intern, Dodge & Cox
- Job – Jefferies 2021 Investment Banking Analyst Program – San Francisco, Technology Group, Jefferies
- Job – Research Assistant, Prelude Capital
- Job – Analyst – Merchant Banking, Incentrum Group
- Job – Investment Banking Analyst, Stephens, Inc. (Boston)
- Job – Business Development Specialist, Ally Financial (Detroit)
June 7
- Experiential Learning – Silver Lake 2021 Distinguished Scholars Program for Women (Private Equity), Silver Lake More info here (must send application to programs@silverlake.com) New Posting Alumni Referral
- Job – Real Estate Specialist, DoorDash New Posting
- Job – Equity Research Associate – US Banks, Jefferies Alumni Referral HOT JOB
June 9
- Job – Operational Due Diligence Analyst, Hall Capital Partners (SF)
June 11
- Job – Analyst, Strategid Solutions Group, HSBC Bank USA (NYC)
- Job – Equity Research Associate – Japanese Equities, Dodge & Cox (SF)
June 13
- Experiential Learning – Wells Faro CIB 2021 Black & LatinX Leadership Summit on 7/14 Apply Here
June 14
- Job – 2022 Financial Analyst Program, Partners Group (Denver)
June 15
- Job – Financial Analyst – Capital Markets, Houlihan Lokey – Corporate Finance
June 16
- Job – Hedge Fund Research Associate, Forester Capital New Posting
June 18
- Internship – Tech M&A Summer Analyst, Aeris Partners
- Job – Program Analyst – Business Analyst, Fiserv New Posting
- Job – Jefferies 2021 Investment Banking Analyst – JNew York, Financial Institutions Group, Jefferies New Posting
- Job – Jefferies 2021 Operations Analyst – Jersey City, Regulatory Reporting, Jefferies New Posting
- Job – Business Associate Program – Client Group, Boston Class of 2021, Wellington Management Company HOT JOB
- Job – Consultant Relations Associate, Janus Henderson Investors (Denver)
- Job – Analyst, Real Estate Investment Banking, David Cronheim Mortgage Corporation
- Job – Tech M&A Summer Analyst, Aeris Partners
June 20
- Job – Wealth Management – Private Bank Program Analyst Banker (Los Angeles), JPMorgan Chase
June 25
- Job – U.S. Associate RPC – TMT, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank Alumni Referral HOT JOB
- Job – GSP – Citi Community Capital – Loan Administration Analyst (Evergreen), Citi
- Job – Associate Account Executive, Bankers Healthcare Group
June 28
- Internship – 2021 Private Equity Intern, Kings Point Holding (Remote)
- Internship – Client Services and Operations Intern, Francis Financial
June 29
- Job – Corporate Innovation Manager, SOSV Chinaccelerator MOX
- Job – Portfolio Analyst – Global Currency & Rates (Investment Grade Fixed Income), Neuberger Berman
June 30
- Internship – GIB Off Cycle Program, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
- Internship – Summer Analyst 2022, Union Square Advisors
- Job – Investment Real Estate Sales Associate, Horvath & Tremblay New Posting
- Job – Evercore Full Time Analyst – Private Placements Advisory – New York, Evercore New Posting
- Job – Investment Analyst, LDV Capital
- Job – Analyst, Capital Advisors Group
- Job – Investment Analyst (Private Investments), Aquarian Holdings
- Job – Analyst, Investment Banking – Corporate Banking (SF), KeyBank
- Job – Client Account Manager, Albourne America LLC
- Job – Junior Support Trader, Impax Asset Management LLC – Pax World Funds
- Job – Equity Trader Trainee Program (Sept 2021), Chimera Securities
- Job – Research and Business Development Analyst, Financial Technology Partners
- Job – Environmental Commodities Broker, Karbone
- Job – Wealth Planning Associate, Ballentine Partners
- Job – Operations Analyst, AIFS Investor Services, SEI
- Job – 2020 & 2021 Undergraduates – Customer Relationship Advocate, Fidelity Investments
- Job – Analyst – Venture Capital/Private Equity, M33 Growth
July 1
- Internship – Various 2022 Roles, Jefferies
- Internship – PIMCO 2022 Summer Internship: Alternative Credit & Private Strategies, PIMCO
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Real Estate – BPP U.S., Blackstone
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Credit, Liquid Credit Strategies, Blackstone
- Job – US Associate – Structured Finance, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank New Posting
- Job – CCB Risk – Business Card Associate, JPMorgan Chase & Co
- Job – GSAM, Fixed Income, Junior Trader/PM – Burlington, VT, Goldman Sachs
- Job – Analyst, Global Equity Research, Acadian Asset Management Alumni Referral
- Job – Financial Advisor/Wealth Management, Equitable Advisors
July 4
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Park Hill Real Estate, PJT Partners (NY)
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Secondary Advisory, PJT Partners (NY)
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Strategic Advisory, PJT Partners (Boston)
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Strategic Advisory, PJT Partners (Houston)
- Internship – 2022 Summer Analyst – Strategic Advisory, PJT Partners (New York)
July 7
- Job – Analyst, Business Management, Moelis & Company New Posting Alumni Referral
- Job – Private Equity Solutions Business Analyst – Business Management, Moelis & Company New Posting Alumni Referral
- Job – US Associate – Compliance – Core Compliance Associate, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank New Posting
July 11
- Job – 2021 Investment Banking Full-Time Analyst (San Francisco & NYC), Nomura Securities
July 12
- Job – Investment Data Analyst, Deutsche Bank
July 13
- Internship – 2022 Global Capital Markets Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Fixed Income Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Institutional Equity Sophomore Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Institutional Equity Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Public Finance Summer Analyst Program (SF), Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Prime Brokerage Client Service Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Fund Services Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Investment Banking Sophomore Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
- Internship – 2022 Investment Banking Summer Analyst Program, Morgan Stanley
July 29
- Internship – Research Analyst Intern, CDI Global
July 30
- Job – Research Associate-Fintech Writing, Harvard Business School
- Job – Marketing Associate – Lead Generation, Albourne America LLC
- Job – Financial Analyst – Real Estate, Leisure & Lodging, Houlihan Lokey
July 31
- Job – Real Estate Investment Analyst, SteepRock Capital
- Job – Product Information Associate, Harding Loevner
August 1
- Internship – 2022 Sales & Trading New York Summer Analyst, Citi
- Job – Sales Team Analyst: New Grad, Jane Street
- Job – Operations Associate, AGC Partners
- Job – Junior Trader (#172656), Credit Suisse
August 16
- Job – Investment Banking Analyst, Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
August 28
- Internship – 2022 Corporate, Investment Banking & Markets Summer Analyst Program, MUFG
August 30
- Job – Financial Advisor Associate, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
August 31
- Internship – 2022 Investment Banking Summer Analyst – FinTech Investment Banking, Financial Technology Partners
- Job – Financial Advisor/Wealth Manager – Boston, McAdamy Financially Advanced New Posting
- Job – Business Analyst, Capgemini America Inc.
September 1
- Internship – 2022 Greentech – Summer Analyst Internship NYC & San Francisco, Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 Investment Banking – Summer Analyst Internship – San Francisco, Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 Investment Banking – Summer Analyst Internship – New York, Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 Global Markets – Summer Analyst Internship – New York, Nomura Securities International
- Internship – Business Development Intern, WOW Payments
- Job – Private Equity Analyst (New Orleans), Search Fund Accelerator
September 2
- Internship – Investment Banking Summer Analyst 2022, Los Angeles & Seattle, Cascadia Capital
September 15
- Internship – Global Investment Banking Summer Analyst 2022, Bank of America
- Internship – Global Investment Banking Sophomore Summer Analyst 2022, Bank of America
- Internship – Latin America Global Investment Banking Summer Analyst Program 2022, Bank of America
- Internship – Latin America Global Investment Banking Sophomore Summer Analyst Program 2022, Bank of America
- Job – Analyst, Cove Hill Partners (Boston) New Posting
September 26
- Internship – 2022 – Corporate Infrastructure – Finance – Summer Intern (NYC), Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 – Corporate Infrastructure – Finance – Summer Intern (NYC-Tokyo pipeline), Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 – Corporate Infrastructure – Summer Intern (NYC), Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 – Corporate Infrastructure – Operations Summer Intern (NYC), Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 – Corporate Infrastructure – Internal Audit Summer Intern (NYC), Nomura Securities International
- Internship – 2022 – Corporate Infrastructure – Information Technology Summer Intern (NYC), Nomura Securities International
September 30
- Internship – 2022 Americas Technology Summer Analyst Program in New York, Credit Suisse
October 1
- Internship – 2022 Corporate & Investment Bank Markets – Various Summer Analyst Programs, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Corporate & Investment Bank Investment Banking- Various Summer Analyst Programs, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Asset Management, Various Summer Analyst Programs, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Global Private Bank, Various Summer Analyst Program, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Securities Services Leadership Program – Summer Analyst, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Internal Audit Analyst Program – Business Track, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Corporate & Investment Bank Risk Management Summer Analyst, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Corporate Analyst Development Program – Summer Analyst, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Global Finance & Business Management Analyst Program – Summer Analyst, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Corporate & Investment Bank Wholesale Payments & Banking Summer Analyst Program, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Human Resources Analyst Development Program – Summer Analyst Program, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Internship – 2022 Chase Leadership Development Program – Summer Analyst Program, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
October 14
- Internship – Americas Technology Summer Analyst Program (Raleigh), Credit Suisse
October 31
- Job – Portfolio Analyst – Fixed Income (Municipals), Lord, Abbett & Co
November 1
- Job – Investment Banking Analyst, AGC Partners
December 31
- Internship – Summer Venture Associate Program 2022, Teamworthy Ventures
- Job – Business Development Representative, Faraday Alumni Referral
March 1
- Internship – Strategy & Operations Management Development 2022 Summer Intern, McMaster-Carr
April 30
- Internship – Summer 2022: Trader/Analyst Intern (Hong Kong), The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
- Internship – Summer 2022: Fundamental Research Analyst Intern (London), The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
- Internship – Summer 2022: Proprietary Trading Intern (London), The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
- Internship – Summer 2022: Proprietary Trading Intern (New York), The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
- Internship – Generalist Intern, The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
- Job – Generalist, The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
- Job – DESRI Investment Team Analyst, The D.E. Shaw Group New Posting
Gain experience and career readiness this summer through Midd Gigs
Midd Gigs are short-term professional projects offered by Middlebury alumni and parents. Here are some current listings that may be of interest to students interested in business, finances, or consulting.
- Weston Brach ’20 needs help with Business Development, iOS Development, Web Development, and UI/UX Design for his startup.
- Katie Rosin ’97 is looking for a talented and knowledgeable Content Marketer/Social Media Evangelist to build NOWHERE to distribute wealth and power.
- Work with Thi Hoang ’21 as a Social Media Marketing intern at Boltz.ai, an AgTech startup using AI and quantum machine learning to make agricultural production efficient and sustainable.
Visit Midd Gigs on Midd2Midd to apply for projects!
Click here for frequently asked questions regarding Midd Gigs.
Free Wall Street Journal Memberships are Available
Middlebury College has partnered with The Wall Street Journal to provide sponsored memberships to all students, faculty and staff, and we want to ensure that you are taking advantage of the benefits and valuable career resources available to you.
Activate Membership
Please activate your membership at WSJ.com/ActivateMiddlebury.
WSJ Career Guides
The reporters at The Wall Street Journal are dedicated to helping students and young professionals navigate their career paths. We invite you to read and share our new WSJ career guides in our Management & Careers section on WSJ.com. These guides are designed to provide actionable insights on topics ranging from How to Build Your Professional Skills to What to Do if You Can’t Find a Job.
Daniel Buchman ’19, Foreign Service Officer, answers career related questions LGBTQ+ identifying students might have when seeking job opportunities
Peer Career Advisor (PCA) and Posse Scholar Zoey Ellis ’22 interviewed Daniel Buchman ’19 to answer common career related questions LGBTQ+ identifying students might have when seeking job opportunities.
The views expressed are the author’s and not necessarily those of the U.S. Government.
Zoey: What activities or student organizations were you involved in during college and how did they help you get to where you are today?
Daniel: I did a few different things. Three that stand out are debate, ResLife, and language tables. Debate was a stand-in for all the philosophy courses I still regret not taking. It helped me take apart arguments and speak persuasively. Those skills have served me in everything from job interviews to visa adjudications. ResLife taught me how to mediate conflicts and create spaces where people feel supported and willing to speak honesty — both skills I have used in my work already. As a language nerd, I loved serving at language tables, but when I became a manager, it was all logistics and not particularly fulfilling even though it felt like a promotion. I’d argue the same principle holds true for a lot of jobs. Sometimes the most gratifying work happens at lower levels, and a management role isn’t always a better deal.
Zoey: As a graduate who identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming, Genderfluid, or Queer, what are some of the questions you suggest students should keep in mind when researching employers and applying to job opportunities?
Daniel: I’d say the most important thing is to ask the questions. Small red flags you notice early can easily become exhausting parts of your workday, so to the extent circumstances allow, try to avoid rushing into a job without doing your due diligence.
Beyond considering the mission of the organization you’re joining and its impact on other queer communities, I recommend asking folks inside the organization — apart from those interviewing you — about internal policies affecting queer employees. I’ve sent hundreds of LinkedIn messages to random strangers, and I’ve gotten the most responses when I mention from the get-go that I want to discuss being queer in their office. I ask all sorts of questions. Is there an employee affinity or resource group for queer employees? Does it have a track record of successfully advocating for its members, or is it just window dressing? Does the healthcare, if offered, cover gender-affirmation procedures? Are there many openly queer employees? Is parental leave offered for adoption or surrogacy? Even if you don’t see these questions applying to you directly, they can serve as a litmus test for the degree to which folks are comfortable with queerness within the organization.
Zoey: Would you suggest students consider to what extent they would like their career to incorporate their LGBTQ+ identity? Do you want your identity to have a major role, such as working for an LGBTQ+ advocacy group? Or expressed differently, like joining the LGBTQ+ affinity group for employees at an organization?
Daniel: Having my identity highlighted in my work wasn’t necessarily something I wanted, but it has become a big part of my job, and I’ve found that to be extremely rewarding.
Before this job, I was never really active in any queer orgs or queer advocacy. Now, I’m a diplomat, and I represent the United States. Being out and proud, wherever I am in the world, is integral to doing my job well. I show folks overseas from all walks of life that, in the United States, the gay son of Russian Jewish immigrants from South Brooklyn can go out and represent his country without hiding any part of who he is. At the same time, being queer means having a greater perspective on the more challenging aspects of U.S. society. Discussing those and our country’s other struggles honestly, empathetically, and with humility makes me a more credible interlocutor.
During her time as a national security advisor, Susan Rice said “think of the LGBT person in Bangladesh who knows that someone at the American embassy understands who she is… That is how we build bridges and deepen partnerships in an increasingly globalized world.” Reading that for the first time inspired me to become the Embassy’s representative of our LGBTQI+ employee affinity group. Today, my identity is absolutely central to my day-to-day professional life. It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my time as a Foreign Service Officer and also the least expected.
Zoey: Could you recommend any career-related LGBTQ+ resources that helped you in the job search process?
Daniel: I think Facebook groups are an undervalued resource. There are groups for just about everything. Search or ask around for a Facebook group of queer professionals in whatever sector you want to join. It almost certainly exists and will give you access to an incredible network. Being queer has enabled me to build immediate connections with queer folks at even the highest levels of the State Department. It’s given me a network of mentors, friends, and supporters, which I would not have been able to access otherwise.
Zoey: Have you come out to your employer, and if so, when in the employment process and how?
Daniel: I started coming out on the first day of orientation. In the Foreign Service, your colleagues double as your second family away from home, so I wanted to build open and honest relationships with my colleagues right out of the gate.
I was in a relationship at the time, and I would drop it into casual conversation, e.g., “my boyfriend and I are planning a trip this weekend.” Outside of specific contexts, it’s always awkward to say “I’m queer!” I’ve always tried to have segues ready like “around the time I came out…”, “my ex-boyfriend introduced me to…”, “all my non-queer friends think…”, etc. Depending on the context, these can work at dinner parties, happy hours, job interviews, and water coolers.
I was really nervous during the hiring process and thought coming out would’ve added a layer of stress I wanted to avoid. In hindsight, I think having come out would’ve actually helped me. The State Department really values intercultural competence, and like a lot of queer folks, being queer taught me how to code-switch. Because my identity is perceived so differently depending on the places I go and the people I meet, I’ve become pretty good at knowing how to adjust my approach to interaction, depending on the cultural context. I didn’t say any of that in my interview and wish I did.
Zoey: What advice would you give your younger college self?
Daniel: Prepare to make mistakes — a lot of mistakes. At Midd, I was super high strung; perfection was the standard, and failure wasn’t an option. That was maybe sustainable, though definitely not healthy or helpful, when the bad grades that sent me on anxious spirals, thinking that I had ruined my future and would never amount to anything, came once every couple of months. Now, I mess up much more frequently. Not because I’ve become less competent, but because I have more responsibilities and thus more opportunities to drop the ball. I care about doing a good job. I’m a public servant, and how well I serve matters to me, but if I took every mistake as an indicator of my worth the way I did in college, I would be worse at my job—not better. So I’m working on being better at making mistakes, and I wish I had started learning that skill much earlier.
Zoey: Is there any other advice that you’d like to share with Middlebury students?
Daniel: Empathy and compassion are as much life skills as they are professional skills. Being kind to people, leveling with them, listening, working to understand others’ experiences, etc., aren’t just nice things to do, they will also make you better at your job. No one is perfect at them, and it takes a lifetime to get good. But college — during a pandemic that affects everyone differently — is as good a time as any to practice, so I’d recommend starting now.
If you would like to contact Daniel Buchman ’19, please reach out via Midd2Midd!
Learn about non-tech jobs in tech companies like product management
We’d like to share a resource that could be helpful to you if interested in non-technical roles in Tech.
Next Wednesday, May 19th at 6:00 PM EST one of the partners School16 is hosting a free online seminar titled How A Director of Product at PayPal Navigated Her Career with Sheila Guastamachio. The seminar will provide insights into what it takes to succeed in product management roles regardless of industry, and the skills required to land these types of opportunities in tech.
Students can attend by signing up on https://www.school16.co/events or by registering directly on the RSVP page for the event.
Master Business Essentials with HBS CORe this Summer
The online Credential of Readiness (CORe) program will prepare you to contribute to business discussions and decision-making, whether you’re looking to advance your career, considering graduate school, or exploring new career paths.
CORe consists of three courses—Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting —and a final exam. Immerse yourself in real challenges faced by seasoned leaders across a variety of industries, develop business intuition through interactive learning exercises, and join a global community of peers. As in the business world, you’ll be evaluated on the quality and timeliness of your work and your contributions to the learning community.
In response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, HBS Online will once again offer current Middlebury College students the opportunity to take May or June CORe for $450 (an 80% discount), regardless of financial need. Enrollment deadlines are fast approaching (May 10 and June 14).
To receive the discount, you must use your campus email address to sign up and confirm in your application that your are a current student. Skip the scholarship section when applying. During enrollment, please enter this promotional code – CoreSummer21 – to receive the discounted pricing before submitting payment. You also have the option to forward payment to a third party to complete enrollment.
Explore this page to learn more about eligibility, cohort dates, and instructions on how to enroll. We hope many students will be able to use this opportunity to learn the fundamentals of business this summer!
Promotion Eligibility
The Summer 2021 CORe promotion is available to students who are undergraduates and recent graduates of the HBS Online Collaborating College network. Students must have a valid school email address to enroll.
- This discount is available only for the non-credit May and June 2021 cohorts of HBS Online’s CORe program. The discount does not apply to the individual CORe certificate courses, but HBS’s normal scholarship program is still available for those courses.
- This discount does not apply to the May for-credit version of CORe offered through Harvard Extension School.
- There is no additional discounting available for high need students – all students can take the program at HBS’s high need price.
Ryan Tauriainen, Former White House Fellow serving in the US Department of Education, answers career related questions LGBTQ+ identifying students might have when seeking job opportunities
Peer Career Advisor (PCA) and Posse Scholar Zoey Ellis ’22 interviewed Ryan Tauriainen ’08 to answer common career related questions LGBTQ+ identifying students might have when seeking job opportunities.
Zoey: What activities or student organizations were you involved in during college and how did they help you get to where you are today?
Ryan: While a student, I was predominantly involved with Middlebury Open Queer Alliance (MOQA) and Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM). I was co-president of MOQA in 2007-2008, which was an eventful period for queer activism at Middlebury. I was also part of a three-person team that successfully founded the Queer Studies House in 2008. Being the leader of a student organization helped me to develop communication and organization skills, which was useful in future leadership positions I held.
Zoey: As a graduate who identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming, Genderfluid, or Queer, what are some of the questions you suggest students should keep in mind when researching employers and applying to job opportunities?
Ryan: Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression. The landscape for queer people in employment is better than it has ever been. That being said, working in a supportive environment is key for one’s mental health. I’d suggest that students do their research before applying. Does the workplace have a history of supporting LGBT people or causes? Does the workplace have an LGBT affinity group? Are there already LGBT employees one can check-in with? Are there LGBT people in seats of leadership or influence? Does the place of work donate to organizations or politicians who are anti-LGBT?
It is also essential to remember when an employer is interviewing you, you are also interviewing your employer. If you feel comfortable, you could ask how the employer supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and specifically LGBT employees.
Zoey: Would you suggest students consider to what extent they would like their career to incorporate their LGBTQ+ identity? Do you want your identity to have a major role, such as working for an LGBTQ+ advocacy group? Or expressed differently, like joining the LGBTQ+ affinity group for employees at an organization?
Ryan: LGBT people, like everyone else, should pursue the career or field that they are passionate about. If that means pursuing a job that is directly related to LGBT rights or activism, that’s wonderful, but it isn’t the right fit for everyone. For some LGBT people, they may have a career that isn’t directly tied to their identity (lawyer, teacher, etc.) but allows their identity to be incorporated in a different way. For example, a queer professor who advises a queer student group on campus or a queer physician who does outreach to the LGBT community. Joining affinity groups can be a great way to find support or make friendships at work when they exist. That is not something that interests every queer person and it should never feel compulsory to be involved in such groups.
Personally, I have always been “out” wherever I worked in the sense that people I worked with always knew that I was gay and partnered (eventually married) to another man. When I was a teacher and a school leader, it was not necessarily something I discussed with students or parents unless it was applicable to the conversation, but that had more to do with keeping my personal life and professional life separate. For some people, that is a very important delineation. Essentially, people should express themselves at the level they choose.
Zoey: Could you recommend any career-related LGBTQ+ resources that helped you in the job search process?
Ryan: I have been very fortunate that in every role I’ve held, using career-related resources wasn’t necessary for me to find the job. I will give the recommendation of the Victory Fund as an LGBT resource if you would like to pursue political appointments for an administration. I know that they are working with the Biden administration to increase the number of LGBT appointees.
Zoey: Have you come out to your employer, and if so, when in the employment process and how?
Ryan: I’ve been fortunate to always work in environments or states in which being LGBT was protected, if not celebrated. In my adulthood, I’ve always felt comfortable being “out.” I’ve never had to “come out” to my employers in the sense that based on my appearance and mannerisms it is usually assumed. Sometimes people are visibly curious but feel uncomfortable asking, so in those cases, I will mention something about my husband to confirm suspicions. I also do this if I find out or suspect a coworker is LGBT, in order for them to find another ally. For example, as a principal, I had the occasion to interview (and hire) applicants who were gay and transgender and I always made a point to drop the hint that I was a member of the community so that they would be less nervous. It gave me great pleasure to hire other LGBT people (as long as they were also qualified and a good fit)!
Zoey: What advice would you give your younger college self?
Ryan: The advice that I would give my younger self would be to apply for everything and not fear rejection. When I was younger, I would talk myself out of applying for programs or jobs because I would convince myself I wasn’t qualified. At a certain point, I started to ask myself, “Why not me?” and pursued everything I was interested in. I wish I had that mindset sooner. I also do not get discouraged by rejection. There have been multiple programs I have applied for and been rejected on the first try. Persistence matters! I have been admitted to nearly every program I have pursued, eventually – sometimes after three tries. In 2019, I was the first Middlebury graduate to ever be admitted into the White House Fellowship, a program with an acceptance rate of less than 1%. However, after applying three years in a row, I eventually made it in. I was told my perseverance was one of the major factors in being offered one of the 15 spots that year.
Zoey: Is there any other advice that you’d like to share with Middlebury students?
Ryan: Middlebury students are incredibly fortunate – do not waste the opportunity you are being given at one of the most beautiful and enriching schools in the world. While a student at Middlebury, challenge yourself to take classes that will perfect your writing and speaking skills. I have found that those are the most important and universal skills in the professional world. You may be surprised to find out just how few people can do those two things well.
My second piece of advice is to be bold and to reach out. I think this should apply to anyone you want to reach out to, but Midd Kids should feel especially comfortable reaching out to other alums. I have found that Middlebury alumni tend to be extremely loyal to our alma mater. Do not be afraid to reach out (via email, LinkedIn, social media, etc) to Middlebury alums who can help you in your field. You would be surprised just how many will respond and actively want to assist you. The worst thing that could happen is being ignored – and that puts you in essentially the same situation had you not reached out at all. Put yourself out there confidently and respectfully and you will go far. On a related note, always be kind to “assistants” and “schedulers”! If you do it the correct way, you’ll always get a response.
My third piece of advice is to never underestimate the power of written thank-you letters. One of the best investments I ever made was having personalized stationery and envelopes made (with my name, address, and a monogram). I even bought a fountain pen, wax, and a wax-seal. Every prominent or potentially helpful person who gives me a moment of time receives a hand-written and mailed card from me. I cannot tell you how much that sticks out in people’s minds. They simply do not forget it! Something that takes just a few minutes could create a lifetime of opportunity.
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Ryan Tauriainen was most recently a White House Fellow serving in the US Department of Education where he helped to streamline operations, manage education grants, and direct the Department’s response to COVID-19. Ryan also helped to oversee the dissemination of over $30 billion of emergency educational funding. Prior to being a Fellow, Ryan had a long career in public K-12 education. Ryan started his career as a Hawaii Public Schools teacher through Teach For America, where he was among the highest performing teachers in the state. He moved to Washington, DC in 2010 where he would serve as a teacher, principal, and district leader. Ryan became a principal at age 26, making him the youngest in the country at the time. He has won several local awards for educational leadership, including being The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year in 2016, and has national awards from five different organizations. He is the author of five children’s books. Ryan received his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College while on a National Merit Scholarship and a master of education from Chaminade University of Honolulu. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
If you would like to contact Ryan Tauriainen, please reach out via Midd2Midd!
