Quick Questions with Peer Advisors now available
Peer Career Advisors at CCI are available during Quick Questions to help you with any immediate needs and questions. No appointment necessary, just drop in!
Peer Career Advisors can can share guidance and answers around the following, and more:
- Develop and review résumés and cover letters
- Search for internship and employment opportunities
- Prepare for interviews
- Access resources like Handshake and Midd2Midd
- Connect with the appropriate CCI advisor
Check out the great team and learn about open hours on the website here. Or just remember the shortcut go/pcas. See you soon!
Seeking a summer internship or full-time employment following graduation? Apply for the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)!
The WRP helps qualified students and recent graduates with disabilities obtain internships and permanent positions with the federal and private employers across the U.S.
To learn more, attend the virtual information session on Thursday, Sept 29 at 4:30 pm. Register here for the zoom link.
Have you RSVP’d for the Create Your First College Résumé event on Sept 7th?
Need a résumé to apply for an on-campus job? Or just want to jump start your year with a new résumé? Then come meet the CCI Advisors on Wednesday, September 7th in Crossroads Cafe (in the McCullough Student Center first floor).
Writing your first college résumé may seem daunting, but our advisors make the process easy!
Learn how to turn the experience you gained through academic, co-curricular, community engagement, work, and other experience into a strong Middlebury résumé.
Stop by anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to meet with a CCI Advisor or Peer Career Advisor.
Your new college résumé will help you to:
- apply for on-campus jobs and other opportunities;
- apply for future internships;
- and more!
NOTE If you have one, please bring a copy of your most recent résumé. If you don’t already have a draft, don’t worry! Simply bring a list of activities or a laptop computer so you can review your Common App activity list with an advisor. Brought to you by The Center for Careers and Internships.
Create Your First College Résumé – Wednesday, 9/7 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm in Crossroads Cafe
Need a résumé to apply for an on-campus job? Or just want to jump start your year with a new résumé? Then come meet the CCI Advisors on Wednesday, September 7th in Crossroads Cafe (in the McCullough Student Center first floor).
Writing your first college résumé may seem daunting, but our advisors make the process easy!
Learn how to turn the experience you gained through academic, co-curricular, community engagement, work, and other experience into a strong Middlebury résumé.
Stop by anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to meet with a CCI Advisor or Peer Career Advisor.
Your new college résumé will help you to:
- apply for on-campus jobs and other opportunities;
- apply for future internships;
- and more!
NOTE If you have one, please bring a copy of your most recent résumé. If you don’t already have a draft, don’t worry! Simply bring a list of activities or a laptop computer so you can review your Common App activity list with an advisor. Brought to you by The Center for Careers and Internships.
Vermont Innovation Summer: Vernal Biosciences Intern
About Vernal Biosciences Vernal Biosciences manufactures high purity mRNA for research use. Vernal Biosciences is seeking motivated self-starters who take initiative, ask questions, seek answers, and can make headway at the lab bench. Experience running common protein-, DNA- or RNA- based production procedures, purification and quantitative/qualitative assays is a plus. Job responsibilities may include but are not limited to: bacterial transformation & scale up, plasmid prep & development, in vitro transcription, RNA capping, DNA/RNA agarose gel image analysis, Western blot, and RNA purification. This is an opportunity to become part of Vermont’s burgeoning Biotech scene while learning worthwhile skills in a fast-paced, small team environment.
What you’ll do
● You will gain experience and contribute to Vernal’s origin story.
● You will work as part of our R&D team to understand and employ the processes involved in RNA synthesis and purity assurance.
● You will empirically optimize processes preceding or concurrent with RNA synthesis.
● You will employ an electronic lab notebook (ELN) and become acquainted with data architecture, organization and data-driven inquiry.
● You will present your findings and forward-thinking in a group setting.
This opportunity is part of Middlebury College’s Vermont Innovation Summer cohort program, sponsored by the Innovation Hub. This program supports students working with companies and on self-directed projects across Burlington’s innovation ecosystem. For more information about Vermont Innovation Summer, please contact Ben Yamron at byamron@middlebury.edu.
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 |
Conflict Transformation Student Trek to Washington, DC on June 5-8! Application Deadline 4/17.
Students interested in areas of conflict transformation, including peace and security studies and migration and refugee issues, will be exposed to real-world professional experiences that will enable them to inform their career exploration and other post-graduate planning. This is a collaboration with the Middlebury in DC office and is funded by the $25 million grant to support programming in conflict transformation.
This will be an immersive “living and learning” experience organized around opportunities to meet with alumni and visit many different kinds of organizations. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
The application deadline is Sunday, April 17 at 11:59 PM.
FAQ for DC Trek applicants:
As you consider applying for this exciting opportunity, we’ve collected a few questions that might be on your mind to help you be informed as you decide whether to apply or not.
What if my internship starts right around that week of June 6 when this trip is happening?
We encourage you to discuss this with your supervisor. In some cases this could be an actual good thing to attend and then start your internship. A contact or supervisor at your internship might be more understanding than you think. Let us know if you want to discuss this more. We realize this could be an issue but hope it’s not a big obstacle.
Will you really pay for all expenses to get me to DC? Like air tickets, food and hotels too?
Yup! We know it can be expensive, and will work with you within reason to make this affordable because we think it’s worth it. We’ll include dinner Sunday night, then 3 meals on Monday and Tuesday, and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday before the program ends. We’ll work with you to make travel arrangements to arrive in DC on Sunday evening, then depart on Wednesday late afternoon. We’ll also cover subway fares or other local transport in DC. And you’ll have housing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings.
What organizations will we be visiting?
Good question. We are building this trip as we speak. We have some places in mind now, and depending on who is selected for the trip, we may adapt and try new visits. The purpose is to show you a wide range of interesting organizations doing work in this area. We will probably be visiting 2-3 places per day, with a reflection activity in the evening to help you process all you are learning.
What happens after this trip?
We hope you make connections with alumni and learn about the variety of opportunities that exist. You can use this trip as a spring board to investigate internships for future summers or explore how it connects to future classes you want to take on campus. We anticipate you will return to your scheduled summer internship or job or go home after the program ends.
I’m not sure if this trip is right for me, why should I apply? What are you looking for in candidates?
If you’re curious, open minded and are ready to learn, this trip is for you. If you’ve always wanted to visit DC, or have been in the past and want to go again, this trip is for you. All majors are welcome. All class years are welcome. In fact, younger students like first years might be the best. If you think you know what conflict transformation is, join us. Better yet, if you’re still working it out, that’s fine too, we will discover and explore together.