Consulting Case Interview Preparation Summer Program: Deadline SUNDAY night!
The CCI “case buddy” program provides a significant leg-up in preparing for the critical case interview as part of the hiring process for consulting jobs and internships.
This program is for rising juniors and seniors who plan to go through the recruitment process this fall for full time positions after graduation or next summer’s internship. You do not have to be interning at a consulting firm this summer to participate.
How it works: Selected students will be matched with a Middlebury alumnus/a to work together over the summer of 2020. During this time, you and your assigned alumni mentor will engage in a minimum of 3 practice case interviews. You will together identify goals and expectations, and review and discuss areas of improvement. You have the option of meeting by video chat or by phone. This should all take place during June, July and August.
This opportunity is for students serious about consulting. Not for the curious and just exploring. We will make our best attempt to match you, but it is not guaranteed. Matches will be introduced in the middle of May.
Click HERE to apply in Handshake. Deadline is May 3.
Financial Planning Webinar for College Grads
This is a program recommended by a Middlebury Trustee! Check it out if interested.
AN INVITATION FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS OR RECENT GRADUATES IN YOUR LIFE! PLAN TO JOIN US FOR OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR! Future Ready: Financial Planning 101 A Webinar for College Students and Recent Graduates Thursday, May 7, 2020 2:00-3:00 p.m. Interactive Presentation with Q&A Session Register Here While we are all currently “stuck” at home, wondering about the future, life will eventually get back to a new normal. And for current college students or recent graduates, there will be lots of exciting changes to navigate as this new generation enters the workforce. So now may be the perfect time for young adults to gain a better understanding of budgeting and financial planning for future goals! Wolf Group Capital Advisors has put together an interactive webinar designed for college students and recent graduates, to prepare them to launch into adulthood with a solid understanding of the joys and challenges of financial independence. In this webinar, we will answer, in detail, key questions like: * How do I set a monthly budget and track spending? * How do I know how much money to be saving? * How do I build good credit? * How do I best take advantage of employer benefits? * How do I make realistic and smart housing decisions? * How do I allocate money to reach personal goals (vacations, grad school, or savings? * Why is it important to choose someone to keep me accountable? Please register in advance for this webinar. Space is limited. Not sure you can make it? Register anyway to ensure you receive a recording of the webinar and any hand-outs! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Register Here Webinar Presenter Kevin Ostergaard, CFP®, ChFC® Kevin is an Associate Financial Planner at Wolf Group Capital Advisors specializing in holistic financial planning. He is dedicated to supporting and guiding his clients to achieve financial freedom through the development of a comprehensive financial plan and tailored investment management strategy. Kevin is a Certified Financial Planner® and a Chartered Financial Consultant®. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in economics and also holds an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Georgetown University. Please Join Us |
Hope you check it out if interested!
SENIORS: Alumni Advice from the Last Great Recession
Join five Middlebury alumni from the classes of 2007 to 2009 who graduated into an economic marketplace much like the one you are facing today (minus the global health pandemic). Gain perspective and hear how they got through it and landed on their feet.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6th at 5:30 pm EST
Our alumni panelists are Midd2Midd volunteers, and like the other 3,000 alumni, they are there to mentor and assist you during these times of uncertainty. If you haven’t already, sign up to join Midd2Midd now!
Conversation with Liza Reynolds Merolla, Strategy and Operations Manager at Google
Liza Reynolds Merolla ‘08.5, Strategy and Operations Manager at Google
Major: Psychology
Could you briefly introduce your career and how did you make decisions at major transitional points? I graduated in February 2009 – a really difficult time to look for jobs – so I went with my Midd roommate to Africa for four months to volunteer and travel, which sparked my passion for international development. I moved to Washington DC to pursue this passion, and I had a couple short-term jobs before joining the Center for Global Development, an international development think tank. At CGD, I helped to open a new office in London and establish European policy research agenda for that team. I really enjoyed the business operations and strategic aspect of that work, which led me to pursue my MBA at Columbia University. After business school, I became a management consultant at MonitorDeloitte, designing corporate strategies for C-suite executives across industries. With my background in and passion for social impact, I also worked with several non-profit organizations on a pro bono basis.
After three years in consulting, I transitioned to Google’s strategy and operations team, working to support sales teams partnering with the world’s biggest advertisers. At Google, I work with senior sales leaders to set the strategy for their businesses and help their teams to execute against that strategy to hit their goals.
We know you have always been a big advocate for the Liberal Arts education. How would you suggest Middlebury students to take full advantage of their time at Middlebury while getting prepared for the job market? The Liberal Arts education teaches you how to think critically, communicate clearly, and develop strong interpersonal skills – these are all hugely valuable skills for any job in any industry. I think it is great to have a career plan or goal early on and try to take the intentional steps to achieve it. However, sometimes students get caught up trying to take all the “right” classes, do the most “desireable” extracurriculars, and find the “perfect” internship – being overly focused on this, they might miss other equally valuable experiences that Middlebury offers. For example, you may find long-lasting mentorship from a professor in a department outside of your area of study, or meet some great people through an on-campus activity that is different than what you’d normally do. There is nothing wrong with being goal-driven and career-oriented, but students should not forget to leave spaces for social interactions and extracurriculars that are enriching in their own way. Personally, I studied Psychology at Middlebury because I loved the classes and professors; even though I did not end up pursuing Psychology beyond the classroom, my holistic experience at Middlebury set me up for success in my career.
You have advised and mentored many students and young professionals in your career. What is your advice for students seeking mentors in their first jobs? Mentors have been and continue to be extremely important to me in my career. Many of my mentors from over the years have become close friends. To find a mentor, reach out to people who you have a connection to – a Middlebury alumni, a friend of your parents or a sibling, your friends’ coworkers – whatever it is, use that connection. Reach out through genuine, thoughtful communications – everyone is so busy and likely receiving many emails like this, so make yours stand out by making a personal connection and being gracious in what you’re asking of someone. If it was someone at my current company, I always tried to identify something I could volunteer to help that person with – a side project or being an extra set of hands at an event – because it helps to have the relationship be a two-way street. Finally, make sure you keep in touch with your mentors – every time I moved forward with an interview process, received a job offer, or was admitted to graduate school, I always reached out to update everyone who helped me along the way. Having genuine and ongoing communications with mentors can go a long way and can strengthen that relationship for the long term.
What was your most memorable experience at Middlebury? What were the things you enjoyed the most on campus? I really enjoyed the social and communal aspect of the dining hall; Middlebury is somewhat unique in that most students would eat three meals a day together on campus. Often, I would plan to grab a quick lunch, but ended up running into some friends, then other friends, and before I knew it a couple hours went by catching up with people. Connecting over food always brings people together, and the dining hall experience was a perfect way to unwind, laugh, and form long-lasting relationships. And of course, I loved to ski – some of my absolute favorite times as a Middlebury student were spent on the slopes with friends!
This series is coordinated by Xiaoli Jin ’19. Look for more alumni profiles each week. You can connect with Xiaoli on LinkedIn.
If you are interested to interview alumni and contribute to this series, please contact Xiaoli Jin 2019′ on Midd2Midd.
In this time of social distancing, we are all looking for new ways to stay connected, and Midd2Midd is one of them! Midd2Midd connects Middlebury students, alumni, and parents, supporting mentoring, networking, and engagement within the Middlebury community around the world. Midd2Midd is your place to make things happen. Simply complete your profile, create a customized search, and begin to network!
Conversation with Matt Friend, Manager at Bain & Company
Matt Friend ’07, Manager at Bain & Company
Major: Classical Studies
How did your Middlebury education help you develop essential skills that you use in your day-to-day job? The most important things I learned from Middlebury are probably communication skills and the ability to adapt my thinking in a flexible fashion. As a consultant, the types of my projects are extremely variable. Some of my works are heavily quantitative, whereas the others can be qualitative project management work. Being able to do well across a spectrum of industries is important to success in my field.
What essential qualities would you look for if you were to hire a recent college graduate for your team? Compared to MBA-level candidates, we tend to focus more on the analytical capabilities of candidates at the undergraduate level. We do hire a lot of students from liberal arts background without a STEM degree, but we want them to demonstrate some interest and capacity in engaging in quantitative work. General business intuitions also matter. Personally, I would look for candidates who can both think structurally and clearly communicate their thinking to the team.
It’s interesting that you mentioned the importance of analytic skills. At Middlebury, more and more students with STEM backgrounds are exploring a career in consulting. How do you see these two fields overlaps? Having a technical background has become increasingly advantageous for pursuing a career in consulting, as these two fields are gradually blending together. Many strategy projects are now informed by technical analyses. At Bain, we have an advanced analytics group that helps clients to solve the most sophisticated technical problems. Moreover, people are interested in infusing analytical components into strategy projects rather than seeing the analytics team as a stand-alone functional group. On a management level, we also see more and more companies leveraging their CIOs and CTOs as important stakeholders in strategic decision makings. Therefore, I would encourage students with technical backgrounds to consider consulting and business-oriented roles. That being said, students without STEM degrees should not be discouraged at all. Our associates and consultants come from a diverse background, each with their distinctive skillsets. You certainly don’t need to be a STEM major to demonstrate your analytical skills.
As most people are working from home now, students often have to reach out to alumni and recruiters remotely. Could you offer some tips of conducting remote conversations so as to maximize the level of human touch that we usually find in in-person meetings? One simple thing that many people tend to forget is to make sure that the communication technology works. For example, if you anticipate not having stable internet connections, you should either use your cellphone or switch to another place in advance to make the call. I would also suggest students using the video over the phone whenever possible. When you are on a video call, make sure you have an appropriate background to present.
Good suggestions! Thanks for taking the time to offer us career suggestions. To conclude the interview, we would love to know your most memorable experience at Middlebury. I was a skiing instructor at Middlebury, so my most memorable experience was probably skiing and hiking related. At Middlebury I was able to take advantage of the outdoors and have everything right in my backyard.
This series is coordinated by Xiaoli Jin ’19. Look for more alumni profiles each week. You can connect with Xiaoli on LinkedIn.
If you are interested to interview alumni and contribute to this series, please contact Xiaoli Jin 2019′ on Midd2Midd.
In this time of social distancing, we are all looking for new ways to stay connected, and Midd2Midd is one of them! Midd2Midd connects Middlebury students, alumni, and parents, supporting mentoring, networking, and engagement within the Middlebury community around the world. Midd2Midd is your place to make things happen. Simply complete your profile, create a customized search, and begin to network!
Financial Planning Webinar for College Grads
This is a program recommended by a Middlebury Trustee! Check it out if interested.
AN INVITATION FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS OR RECENT GRADUATES IN YOUR LIFE! PLAN TO JOIN US FOR OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR! Future Ready: Financial Planning 101 A Webinar for College Students and Recent Graduates Thursday, May 7, 2020 2:00-3:00 p.m. Interactive Presentation with Q&A Session Register Here While we are all currently “stuck” at home, wondering about the future, life will eventually get back to a new normal. And for current college students or recent graduates, there will be lots of exciting changes to navigate as this new generation enters the workforce. So now may be the perfect time for young adults to gain a better understanding of budgeting and financial planning for future goals! Wolf Group Capital Advisors has put together an interactive webinar designed for college students and recent graduates, to prepare them to launch into adulthood with a solid understanding of the joys and challenges of financial independence. In this webinar, we will answer, in detail, key questions like: * How do I set a monthly budget and track spending? * How do I know how much money to be saving? * How do I build good credit? * How do I best take advantage of employer benefits? * How do I make realistic and smart housing decisions? * How do I allocate money to reach personal goals (vacations, grad school, or savings? * Why is it important to choose someone to keep me accountable? Please register in advance for this webinar. Space is limited. Not sure you can make it? Register anyway to ensure you receive a recording of the webinar and any hand-outs! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Register Here Webinar Presenter Kevin Ostergaard, CFP®, ChFC® Kevin is an Associate Financial Planner at Wolf Group Capital Advisors specializing in holistic financial planning. He is dedicated to supporting and guiding his clients to achieve financial freedom through the development of a comprehensive financial plan and tailored investment management strategy. Kevin is a Certified Financial Planner® and a Chartered Financial Consultant®. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in economics and also holds an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Georgetown University. Please Join Us |
Hope you check it out if interested!
More Resources for Remote Internships
We know that many students’ plans for summer internships are changing. And as CCI has let you know, we anticipate that most of the internships CCI will be able to fund this summer will be remote internships.
Last week, we posted some resources for students seeking remote internships for this summer. This week, we also learned that Global Experiences is offering international virtual internships abroad and CEA has extended their deadline to May 1.
Global Experience Virtuoso Virtual Internships Abroad – Get matched with an international company based on your interests. Deadlines April 22, May 1, and May 15. $1500 fee includes placement, coaching, mentorship, and more. (CCI will consider funding these opportunities if you submit an internship funding application by May 8.)
CEA Virtual Internships Abroad – CEA informed us that they have extended their application deadline to May 1. Engage in supervised international work experience and build global career readiness competencies, all while staying at home. $450 placement fee and additional $95 application fee, which they may waive if asked. (CCI will consider funding these opportunities if you submit an internship funding application by May 8.)
Don’t forget: If you have an unpaid summer internship or experience, you can apply to CCI for internship funding. Apply on a rolling basis up until May 8. See go/summerfunding for information, eligibility, FAQs and more. Make sure to indicate a Covid-19 summer plan in your essay that gives specifics on if this is a remote internship or what other contingency plans you and your supervisor have agreed upon.
We are still awaiting final policy decisions from Middlebury for summer funding, but CCI anticipates being able to fund only remote internships, those in your home city/town if not with a vulnerable population, and possibly some in-person domestic internships that start mid-summer in locations not hit by the coronavirus outbreak. More information coming soon.
Online Case Interview Workshop April 21
Most management consulting firms incorporate some form of case interview into their interview process. Cases are often viewed by students as daunting and/or intimidating. The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of what case interviewing is and how students can practice before the kick-off of interview season, and run through an interactive case interview in real time.
Join the session on Tuesday, April 21 at 7pm. Register by clicking HERE and going to Handshake.
The workshop is hosted by Brendan Boler, a Presidential Fellow at the University of Virginia’s Data Science Institute. Boler specializes in management consulting, high-performance coaching, and talent assessment and selection. He has extensive experience within the fields of management consulting and banking, having worked at Accenture, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. This workshop is sponsored by the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce Graduate Admissions Office.
Seniors – new life science consulting job in Boston or SF
Jupiter Life Science Consulting assists organizations – including biopharmaceutical and generic manufacturers, device and diagnostic companies, and financial, legal and investment firms – to maximize commercial success through the use of advanced strategic planning, economic analytics, market research and detailed project planning.
We are a fully customized, specialty consulting shop in which every employee is an owner, sharing a common objective to satisfy our customers’ needs. Our specialties include market access, pricing, reimbursement, commercial assessments, and legal expert witness work.
Apply now in Handshake HERE for the Analyst job
Nonprofit summer fellowship in Chicago – remote only
New Sector Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consulting and leadership development firm. They are particularly looking for students who are veterans, but it is open to all.
We work across sectors to help established and emerging leaders tackle pressing challenges and advance their careers. Our mission is to accelerate social change by strengthening organizations and developing leaders.
The Summer Fellowship program http://newsector.org/summer/ is an intensive, 10-week program for undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates. Fellows are selected from a highly competitive pool and matched with a Chicago area non-profit or social impact organization.
Learn more and apply HERE in Handshake. This opportunity looks good because they specifically said the experience will be all remote.