Consulting Prep for this summer and onward
I know the semester is almost over. But this summer and early fall, things will be busy. Here are some ideas for you to prepare as things heats up:
Network
This should not be a surprise to you, relationships matter. So either start or continue to reach out to alumni or other contacts. Not sure what to ask or how to reach out? Read this guide. Think about who you know, and consider asking for a referral to other people. Consider your affinity groups like maybe sports teams, music groups, clubs or other activities you are involved with. Midd2Midd is a good start (over 250 alums when you go to ‘industry’ of strategy/management consulting). And this LinkedIn alumni tool is very powerful with over 32,000 alumni in all industries.
Research and Target firms
Despite how great Middlebury is, we are not a target school where all firms recruit. This means you have to go to them directly and identify the career sites or Human Resource pages at firms that interest you. Some firms will post a job or internship on Handshake, but only a select few will actually come to campus to interview you. (or do so virtually this year). I just want your expectations to be clear.
Part of researching the consulting field is knowing the players beyond the big names like McKinsey, Deloitte, BCG and Bain. A huge resource to explore more and widen your perspective is this resource.
With all that said, here are 20+ firms that I suggest you keep on your radar now who have recruited at Midd in the past:
- Oliver Wyman
- Kaiser Associates
- Analysis Group
- Cadent
- Kantar
- BroadBranch
- Compass Lexicon
- Charles River Associates
- Beacon Group
- Brattle Group
- Avascent
- Clearview Healthcare Partners
- Clarion Healthcare
- Trinity
- Putnam
- Kearney
- Accenture and Accenture Federal
- Cornerstone Research
- Edgeworth Economics
- BTS
- Seurat Group
- Advisory Board
- GLG
- AlphaSights
- Third Bridge
- Bridgespan Group
- CG42
- Dalberg
- Camber Collective
Remote Externships with PwC, National Geographic and more
Browse these interesting opportunities to get some experience in a unique way!
Advice from Peer Career Advisor, Cindy Cardona ’22: The CCI’s Top Ten Tips for a Successful Summer Internship
- Treat your internship like an interview for a future job – Many organizations that offer internships also offer job opportunities, thus, it is always important to make a lasting impression. If you are an exceptional intern, it is much more likely that the company would consider creating a position on their team for you! Internship supervisors often also serve as great references when applying to future internships and employment positions. Consequently, make sure to dress your best, stay on top of deadlines, and go above and beyond to demonstrate your work ethic!
- At the same time, think of your internship as a possible future job – While interns and employees often have different responsibilities in the workplace, this summer can still be enlightening in determining your future. It will allow you to understand more about what role you naturally take on in a team setting and therefore, what kind of company or organization you would like to be a part of. It can also provide you with insight on what type of job you would like to have, for example do you prefer office work or a more hands-on work environment? Advice from mentors and our CCI advisors is always extremely helpful, however, personal experience is usually the best form of knowing which career path to choose.
- Take initiative – If you’ve finished a project you were assigned to, 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 have 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 if that is the case, it would help you in obtaining an employment offer or furthering your relationship with the employer. But if you are also feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to be your own advocate and ask for extra time or assistance.
- 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.
- Keep an open mind – If you are asked to complete a project or give a presentation, do not automatically turn down the offer because you do not have experience doing so. Take this as an opportunity to learn! You will get the most out of your internship if you get out of your comfort zone and attempt to develop new skills! Being accommodating is an extremely important tool in overcoming obstacles in everyday life so make sure to practice this in your internship as well!
- Set goals for yourself – Take some time to think about which skills you already have and which you would like to develop. Internships are one of the best places to learn more about yourself and about your abilities. Given the length of summer internships, stay organized by making weekly goals for yourself. When you think of these goals, do not keep them broad, make certain that they are measurable to keep you on track. For example, rather than simply wanting to increase followers for a social media managing internship, plan to increase the number of followers on the account by 50 every week. Whatever the goal is, make sure to try and quantify it!
- Network – Meet as many people as you can! The more you get to know the individuals you are working alongside with, the more they will know you and be more likely to make professional connections on your behalf. Oftentimes a reputable spokesperson is a major determining factor in whether a future organization will choose to offer a position to you versus another candidate. It is possible that one of the many people you meet will be your future employer or your key into graduate school someday, so always put your best foot forward!
- Try to keep a balanced summer – While having an internship over the summer often does not leave you with a lot of time to do much of anything else, always remember to take breaks and enjoy your summer! Take in the beautiful weather, spend time with friends and family, make sure to de-stress! It will be hard to not worry about all that you have to do but remember that you have been extremely productive and reward your hard work from time to time!
- Be proud about all that you accomplished! A summer internship is oftentimes much longer than internships offered in the winter, meaning that you are going to dedicate a great deal of time on projects and learning many different skills. As students we tend to downplay our achievements and all that we were responsible for during internships. It may feel pretentious to do so, but make sure to communicate all that you did on your future resumes and cover letters! You spent an entire summer developing your ability to accomplish certain tasks and you should be proud to show this off!
- Maintain contact – The most important tip to networking properly is to make certain that you continue contact after the initial introduction is made. A company may not necessarily remember an individual intern simply because they interned for a summer, therefore, it is important to stay in touch. The best letters of recommendation are those in which the individual writing them truly knows the applicant. In order to do this, make sure to reach out at least once or twice a year to maintain these ties and keep your network updated.
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.
Head First! Join the SGA and CCI at our LinkedIn Event on Tuesday, May 3rd
Dive head first into improving your professional portfolio and get your headshot in Axinn on May 3rd @ 5-7:30 PM. Come dressed for success and get your headshot taken by a professional photographer. Running from class and don’t have time? The CCI wardrobe will be there to help with dress shirts, combs, and mirrors.
The CCI and SGA Student Affairs and DEI Committees have partnered to bring a variety of stations to help YOU personalize your professional brand. Visit our LinkedIn Review station, meet with a Peer Career Advisor to help with your resume, and learn about Middlebury’s Midd2Midd network. Join us for some music and charcuterie boards and try your luck at winning some prizes!
*This event is partially funded by SGA JusticeProjects.
How to ethically accept a job or internship offer
It is the time of year when students receive job and/or internship offers. You’ve put in a lot of time and effort, and it’s good to celebrate this accomplishment. It’s an exciting time! This note is to review how to accept an offer ethically.
Review the offer details in full, make a final decision, and communicate to the employer whether you accept or decline the offer.
If you accept, remember that you agreed to Middlebury’s CCI Student Code of Conduct which states, “After I accept an internship or job offer, I agree to immediately withdraw all pending applications and cancel all scheduled interviews (on- and off-campus). I will notify my career center that I have accepted an offer.”
This means that it is unethical to continue applying and interviewing for opportunities to see if something better comes along.
It is a small world, and you do not want to burn any bridges. Reneging on an accepted offer reflects poorly on you, can hurt future relations between Middlebury and the employer, and affects other students.
Please keep this in mind as you evaluate your options, and here at CCI we are always happy to help you evaluate and respond ethically to offers.
Women in Data Science Gathering on Friday 5/6
Women In Data Science Gathering Friday May 6, 2022 1:00 – 4:00 PM EST MBH 216 Join us to learn how data science is used in various fields, and to hear advice from recent Midd alums working in data science careers. WiDS Middlebury is an independent event that is organized by WiDS Middlebury Ambassadors as part of the annual WiDS Worldwide conference organized by Stanford University and an estimated 200+ locations worldwide, which features outstanding women doing outstanding work in the field of data science. All genders are invited to attend all WiDS Worldwide conference events. Schedule (all times approximate) Keynote speaker (1:05-1:40) Dr. Elena Tej Grewal, Founder of Data 2 the People Lightning talks from Middlebury College professors (1:40-2:45) Carrie Anderson, Associate Professor of History of Art & Architecture Tanya Byker, Associate Professor of Economics Kathryn Crawford, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Alumni panel discussion (3:00-3:50) Beatrice Lee ‘20.5, Research Assistant at Survey Center on American Life Trisha Singh ’18, Research Data Scientist at Meta Grace Weissman ‘21.5, Special Projects Analyst at Planned Parenthood Register |
Technology Internships with Shohoz.com
Middlebury alum Khalid Quadir ’89—CEO and founding partner of Brummer & Partners Asset Management Limited (which manages Frontier Fund, the first private equity fund in Bangladesh) and founder of bracNet, a Bangladesh wireless broadband operator—is offering a unique summer internship opportunity for two Middlebury students to experience the challenges and rewards of working for a rapidly growing company providing a critical service in a frontier market space.
The paid, remote internships are sponsored by the Anwarul Quadir Foundation (AQF), which seeks to promote understanding of economic and social progress in Bangladesh.
Apply here on Handshake. This is a paid, very special opportunity.
Attention First Year Students – Morgan Stanley now accepting sophomore program applications for Summer 2023
The 2023 Morgan Stanley Sophomore Summer Analyst Program is extremely beneficial and can lead to a junior year internship, so we strongly encourage eligible candidates to apply. The application allows for you to apply to up to three divisions. Submit with a polished resume and basic behavioral interview questions prepped since you will need to complete a HireVue within ~48 hours of submitting your application.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we recommend you apply ASAP. If you have questions, please make an appointment with Ursula Olender via Handshake and also network with our Morgan Stanley Campus Ambassadors.
- Sophie MacKeigan ’22, Incoming FID (S&T) Analyst (smackeigan@middlebury.edu)
- Lucas Cappelletti ’23, Incoming FID (S&T) Summer Analyst (lcappelletti@middlebury.edu)
- Jason Schneiderman ’23, Incoming FID (S&T) Summer Analyst (jschneiderman@middlebury.edu)
- Donovan Wood ’24, Incoming IED (S&T) Summer Analyst (dwood@middlebury.edu)
- Aaron Tobias ’24, Incoming IBD Summer Analyst (atobias@middlebury.edu)
- Olivia Reposa ’24, Incoming GCM (IBD Product) Summer Analyst (oreposa@middlebury.edu)
Attention International Students – OPT/STEM work authorization session with immigration attorney
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) invites Middlebury international undergraduate and graduate students as well as recent alumni on OPT/STEM OPT to attend.
Attorney Megan Kludt, a partner at the immigration law firm Curran, Berger & Kludt, will provide an overview of U.S. visa options after students complete their Middlebury degree and OPT/STEM work authorization. Join us to learn about available employment and post-graduation visa categories—beyond standard and STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training). She will discuss H-1B processes, Legal Permanent Residency and more. Come with your questions!
The focus of this session is on visa options after completing your student status. (Note: Questions about OPT/STEM OPT should be directed to isss@middlebury.edu and will not be addressed at this session.)
Monday, April 25th
Presentation 4:30-5:30 pm PDT, followed by 15-min Q&A
Job at intersection of politics and business – Midd friendly firm with several alumni
Global Counsel is recruiting the next cohort of graduate trainees to join the London, Brussels or Washington DC offices starting in August 2022. The roles are a great opportunity for anyone interested in getting hands-on experience in public policy and to learn about the world of strategic advisory. The successful candidates will have a strong interest in the interface of politics, policy making, and business.
Very friendly Midd firm. As an alum said: “We do really interesting work that would appeal to Middkids that have a deep interest in politics and policy (domestic or international). IPE, Poli Sci, Econ are typical backgrounds, but frankly we seek critical thinkers that write well and are fun to work with. We are very open to any degree as long as the candidate has a deep interest in politics and policy.”
Act now, deadline is soon. Apply on Handshake here