As you’ve probably noticed, we haven’t been posting over the summer. But stay tuned, we’ll be ready in the fall with announcements and stories and resources for the class of 2013. Thanks!

Seniors who love to snowboard – looking for a venture opportunity right out of Middlebury?  Alumnus Matt Whitcomb ’93 has approached us to forward the following:

Village Skate & Snow is looking for a business partner (rather than an outright sale) to maximize the potential of the snowboard shop. In addition to modest start-up capital (likely between $25,000 and $35,000), this opportunity needs the elbow grease and vision of an owner operator who is familiar with snowboard culture and has some real business savvy, willing to push new partnerships and products and exploit the online sales angle in particular.

For more information about this opportunity in East Burke, VT, please contact Matt Whitcomb ’93:

Matt Whitcomb
Regiment Capital Special Situations Funds
222 Berkeley Street, 13th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Work:  617.488.1638
Cell:  207.423.3859
Email:  mwhitcomb@regimentcapital.com

As you prepare to attend the Spring Job Fling (tomorrow from 12-2, click here for more details) check out these tips for navigating a networking event.

Looking to reenergize—or begin—your job search? Meet with Midd-friendly employers and get hot-off-the-press job leads at the Spring Job Fling. Come to Coltrane Lounge, Adirondack house between noon and 2 p.m., April 4.

Just when you need a boost Career Services, presents our 8th Annual Spring Job Fling for all Middlebury seniors! This is your chance to meet with a number of Midd-friendly employers and Career Services staff—who will be handing out job leads—all in one convenient place.

When: April 4^th, 12 – 2 p.m.
Location: Coltrane Lounge, Adirondack House

What should I expect at the Spring Job Fling?

Bring your resume and prepare to network! Come ready to represent yourself: where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going. Want to make a good impression with a particular employer? Consider dressing for success: swap the tee for a collared shirt/blouse and jeans for slacks. Some of these employers will be offering on-campus interviews before or after the event (check MOJO for details and to apply).

Participating employers will be added to MOJO as they register, so keep checking the Senior Program blog for the latest, up-to-date information.

• ·     Carney Sandoe & Associates
• ·     Epic
• ·     Tuck Business Bridge
• ·     Tetra Tech ARD
• ·     Insight Global
• ·     Readak
• ·     Her Look Enterprises
• ·     Monterey Institute of International Studies
• ·     Yeti Solar 
• ·     Peace Corps
• ·     800 Response
• ·     World Camp
• ·     AGC Partners
• ·     Tuck Business Bridge

 Participating employers will be updated on MOJO as they register.

Middlebury FoodWorks: Louisville

Bring your Meal and Attend an Info Session to Learn More! Graduating Seniors welcome! Wednesday, March 7th at 6:15pm in Ross B11, Thursday, March 8th at 12:30pm in LaForce 121

When? Thursday, March 8th at 7:30pm in The Orchard, Hillcrest. Louisville partner Rowan Claypool will be available at these sessions to truly describe the FoodWorks experience and answer your questions!

Middlebury FoodWorks: Louisville is a nine-week competitive PAID internship program – with FREE housing – centered on the different aspects of a local food economy in Louisville, KY. This information session will provide an overview of the program and its benefits, the kind of internships available, and answer any questions you may have!

Positions available in: city government, microenterprise and development, health and nutrition, marketing and retail, publishing, event planning, with non-profits, AND, yes, on farms and in restaurants.

For more information, please visit go/mfw and visit MOJO to apply! Deadline to Apply: March 15!

 For more information, contact Amy McGlashan at EIA, x5103.

F. Alexa Warburton ‘09.5 talks about what she loves about working as a veterinary technician with Marlboro Village Veterinary Hospital, applying to veterinary school, and her path to a career in veterinary medicine.

Current job title: Veterinary Technician, Will be attending veterinary school this fall 2012, undecided on where I will attend.

Class year: 2009.5

Major: Biology

Where did your interest come from to work in this career?

My interest in veterinary medicine arose when I was young (around 9 years old) and joined my local Easy Riders 4-H Club where I became obsessed with the care and maintenance of horse husbandry. From mucking stalls to pulling maggots out of an open wound to having to know the anatomy of the horse, my desire to go into an animal related field flourished.

However, it was not only my personal awe and fascination that drew me to the veterinary field, but my parents love for medicine as well. As the only child of a second marriage for both my doctor parents, I am their last hope of becoming the next family physician. I grew up watching the 6pm news and listening to them rattling off medical jargon galore, to which my response was to look at the family dog and sigh. Chappy, our labrador retriever, would stare back aimlessly, agreeing that the emergency splenectomy was not nearly as interesting as the food on our plates. Today my parents’ medical terminology is much more intellectually stimulating to me. I find myself connecting the drugs used by their patients to similar medications prescribed at the animal hospital.

Post college graduation I went to work in two different small animal hospitals, partook in an equine externship and took continuing education courses for veterinary technicians. In the variety of animal experience I have partaken in I always find myself coming back to animal medicine.

Becoming a veterinarian is not dismissing my chance to make an impact on human health and medicine, but rather it is an opportunity to become a part of one medicine for all. A vet is being a human psychologist when an owner is putting it’s “fifth” member of the family (their dog or cat) to sleep. It’s being a pharmaceutical researcher when offering a new experimental drug to a patient that may lead to great promise for future pets and possibly humans. Veterinarians are also public health officials aiding in the understanding (and thus prevention) of such maladies as food-borne, degenerative and neoplastic illnesses as well as infectious zoonotic diseases associated with increasing human-animal interaction. The interconnectedness between human and animal medicine is vast, and by becoming a vet I would be allowed to participate in the healing of all living creatures.

What are typical entry level positions in your field and what does a career path look like?

In some states you are not required to be a licensed veterinary technician and that is how I became employed at Marlboro Village Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. Previously I had worked as a veterinary technician in PA and my experience restraining animals, starting IV fluids, administering basic medications helped me to obtain the job as a veterinary technician.

Normally students volunteer at a humane shelter or work as veterinary assistant before applying to veterinary school. I was very fortunate to work as a veterinary technician and gain even more experience. This job is temporary until I start veterinary school in the fall 2012.

How did you find the current position you have?

A woman I worked with at Companion Animal Hospital in Selinsgrove, PA was leaving Marlboro Village Veterinary Hospital to go to the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She mentioned to me that they were looking for applicants and urged me to apply. I applied and was offered the job starting in September 2011.

While I was applying to jobs this past summer 2011, my experiences gained at Middlebury specifically my honors thesis on the spatial strategy preference of Octopus bimaculoides, impressed many potential employers and got my foot in the door.

As I was applying to veterinary school this past year I believe the rigor of Middlebury academics was known and having a strong GPA from the college in addition to receiving honors for my thesis impressed the interviewers and admission staff.

Starting veterinary school this upcoming fall I believe my comparative vertebrate and invertebrate anatomy, developmental biology, and animal physiology courses taken at Middlebury will aid my in excelling in the first year veterinary school curriculum.

What experience should a college student obtain to be marketable?

A student needs to have small animal veterinary experience, large animal veterinary experience (equine and bovine are a must, porcine, chicken, goat and sheep can only strengthen your application as well), research experience (completing a thesis at Middlebury is sufficient, but trying to get involved in a summer research project outside of Middlebury can help too), wildlife experience and some exotics. Now this is quite intimidating! But doable because what you must realize is that every little bit counts. You do NOT need 500 hours of each! You just need to demonstrate that you have at least dabbled in different animal related fields.

What skills do you think a person needs to be successful in your position?

Experience, experience, experience. What I’ve been told over and over is to get into the veterinary field you need to have it all – research experience, large animal veterinary experience, small animal veterinary experience, exotics, wildlife, etc. The more the better because it shows that not only do you understand all the facets the field has to offer but you have seen them at a working/volunteering level.

What do you like best/least about your work?

Best, the patients. When a dog comes in as an emergency after eating 6 Mucinex and then can go home that evening after being given the works makes you feel confident of your saving abilities. The trust that dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, lagomorphs, etc. have by letting you poke and prod at them to try and gain information regarding the cause of their illness is truly amazing. Least, the costs. Few owners have veterinary insurance for their pets, so as a result they must pay all their medical bills upfront. This limits the veterinarian’s ability to best treat some patients because money becomes the main issue. Especially now with the downturned economy I think owners are hesitant at taking the extra leap and getting an ultrasound, dental, etc. for their dog or cat. These two procedures help save so many animals lives, but the cost is a quick deterrent for the clients. I do have optimism that in the coming years veterinary insurance will become common place, allowing future vets to offer procedures and techniques that many could not afford prior.

What does an average day or week look like for you?

My responsibilities on a day to day basis involve recording patient information in medical records during and after hospital visits, assisting the doctor in surgery, performing radiographic studies, performing laboratory studies on fecal and urine samples, preparing blood work to be sent out, administering anesthetic agents and monitoring patients during anesthesia, performing dental prophylactic scalings and oral examinations, completing in-house treatments on hospitalized patients, maintaining the inventory for the practice, and communicating with pet owners regarding pet loss, current diagnoses and preventive health. In addition I was trained to draw blood, start IV catheters and intubate patients.

What books, web sites, or other resources should students take advantage of now to learn about the field?

1. Association of American Veterinary Colleges: http://www.aavmc.org/
2. Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements (VMSAR). Definitely buy this book. http://www.aavmc.org/Publications/VMSAR.aspx
3. While applying to veterinary school this forum is incredibly helpful. You can ask questions, find out when other students heard from schools and learn what is necessary to apply. http://forums.sdn.net/forumdisplay.php?f=73

4. What schools specific requirements are: http://www.aavmc.org/College-Specific-Requirements/College-Specific-Requirements_College-Specifications.aspx
5. To learn the most up to date veterinary news join this daily email update. Very helpful before interviews to know what’s currently going on in the field: http://www.smartbrief.com/getLast.action?mode=sample&b=avma

What do you think is the next step in your career plan?

This fall 2012 I will be attending veterinary school and am currently in the process of trying to decide where I will go. So-far I was accepted into four schools – University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The opportunity to attend veterinary school this upcoming school year is a dream come true and to be afforded the opportunity to choose where I want to attend is unbelievable!

To apply for the Veterinary Technician position with Marlboro Village Veterinary Hospital by March 1st, Go/MOJO.

“It’s the presumption that building relationships in a professional context is like flossing,” writes Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn. “You’re told it’s important, but it’s no fun.” In his new book, The Start-up of You, Hoffman reminds us that with the right attitude, networking and the job search in general, can, in fact, be an adventurous process,

Check out this article for more job search tips from Hoffman.

1.  Can you do the job?
2.  Will you love the job?
3.  Can we tolerate working with you?

These are only three “true” job interview questions, says this article in Forbes for LinkedIn. Check out the article to see what top recruiters have to say about these three questions, and how to best demonstrate an affirmative answer to all of these questions in an interview.

The deadline for the C&S Wholesale Grocers position (listed on MOJO) has been extended; applications for campus interviews on March 7th will be accepted via MOJO until Tues., Feb. 28.  To find out more from C&S Wholesale about the company, its mission, and career opportunities (and why you should apply to work for the 9th best private company in the US) read on:

What is C&S Wholesale?
New England-based C&S Wholesale Grocers is the leading grocery wholesaler and distributor in the nation’s food industry. We are the largest wholesale grocery supplier in North America and the nation’s tenth largest privately held company. We are committed to being the lowest cost and highest quality service provider in our industry. We expect to achieve these goals through focusing on continuous improvement projects, the use of cutting-edge technology, and innovative human resource practices. To ensure that we can meet this challenge, we seek intelligent, highly motivated individuals looking to be part of a company committed to being the best in its class. C&S Whole Sale was ranked 9th best private company in the US by Forbes.

Position Available:
Business Analyst (BA)
The Business Analyst position is a developmental role in which the recent graduate will be exposed to all areas of our operation from a top down and bottom up training method simultaneously. While being exposed to the various processes and roles throughout the organization, the Business Analyst will be asked to provide analytical feedback and suggest innovative changes that could immediately impact our operation.

Upon completion of our eighteen-twenty month rotational training program the individual will be placed within a key department that best parallels his/her skills and desired career path. Some of these departments include but are not limited to Warehouse Operations, Supply Chain, Merchandising/Procurement, Process Improvement, Facility Planning & Automation, Transportation, Finance, IT and Human Resources.

Why work for C&S Wholesale Grocers?
Aside from fully furnished, subsidized housing provided by C&S, the company offers an incredible rotation training program at any of their nationwide locations:

• If you’re hard-working, results-focused and you want a job that will challenge you, C&S may have just what you’re looking for.
• We work hard and have fun in the process — striving for “braggingly happy” customers and quality in everything we do.
• The C&S workforce is driven by an employee incentive plan that rewards workers generously for going above and beyond.
• If you’re motivated and constantly want more responsibility, the possibilities within C&S are limitless.
• In addition to highly competitive salaries, we offer an attractive benefits package that typically includes paid vacation and personal time; health, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan and much more.

In addition to providing you with an excellent start to your professional career, C&S prides itself of their corporate citizenship and community based programs. To find out more about these programs, check out: http://community.cswg.com/cs-cares and
http://community.cswg.com/

Curious what a career with C&S Wholesale could look like? Midd alum Patrick Jobson ’11, currently employed with C&S Wholesale as a Business Analyst in Engineering and Planning, answered some of our questions about working for C&S Wholesale:

Patrick Jobson ’11, Business Analyst (BA) – Planning and Engineering

Major: IPE. International Politics and Economics

Where did your interest come from to work in this career?

I was lucky enough to find an internship in a similar industry and I truly enjoyed it. It is a very human based career where people skills, persistence and actual hard work all combine.

What are typical entry level positions in your field and what does a career path look like?

In my case it was a training program. Most entry-level jobs are for engineers and supply chain managers but some companies really like hiring outside the norm and are really enthusiastic about hiring graduates from liberal arts schools.

 How did you find the current position you have?

I applied through MOJO.

How are you using your Middlebury degree?

Middlebury taught me how to work hard, research and think critically. All of these are necessary requirements in this field. Furthermore economics does give you a very good base to work in any mathematical field.

What experience should a college student obtain to be marketable?

Internships, especially within the industry you are interested in, are increasingly important. The reason being that companies simply are more reluctant to take risks when hiring during more complicated economic times. An internship shows them that you understand the business, enjoy it and should be able to start producing as fast as possible.

What skills do you think a person needs to be successful in your position?

The great thing about this field is that it requires a myriad of different skills. I would emphasize analytical skills, human skills, and most importantly a desire to work hard. Be the first one there and the last one out.

What do you like best/least about your work?

What I like the most is the fact that it is a very intellectually demanding job but at the same time you do have the time to work in basic, sometimes even physical, tasks. What I least like about my work is probably something that occurs in most entry-level positions. You can easily get lost and even frustrated when first facing the amount of knowledge and skills you have to obtain.

What does an average day or week look like for you?

I usually start early since I am in charge of many matinal reports. So basically from 7:00 am to 9:00 am I am extremely busy. Afterwards I tend to concentrate on longer term projects for the company. This would entail an important amount of analytical work, asking questions (that is probably my number one recommendation to everybody starting on their careers. Ask as many questions as possible!) and eventually presenting my discoveries to the pertinent boards. A normal day would be truly non-stop but I usually can leave early at around 5:30pm.

To apply, Go/MOJO to submit your application and cover letter by Feb. 28.

How do you think you’re coming across to MiddNet volunteers? You might be less suave than you think you are. If taking a call from a networking contact or a potential employee in the Proctor booth room has ever occurred to you as a not-so-bad idea, think again and read on my friends.

Just last week, Career Services received the following eye-opening feedback from a graduate. There are some revealing messages here about networking: pay attention to the details, follow through on commitments, differentiate yourself from other candidates, and just be considerate. Here’s an important “heads up” from a MiddNet alum:

Over the past five months, I have been contacted by seven current Middlebury students seeking career guidance.  Of those seven:

· One called me by the wrong name and asked me to funnel him through to get a job

· One scheduled a call to discuss my firm, which she took in the dining hall before realizing she could not hear me and then walked across campus talking to people she ran into along the way

· Two scheduled calls, which I thought were helpful and productive, though I never heard back from either of them with any type of thank you or acknowledgment for my taking the time to speak

· Three never responded to my reply to their initial request for guidance

These behaviors are disrespectful of alumni and they are a poor representation of the College. Middlebury has been a respected brand, known for its strong community, and I want that to continue.

I have also interacted with students at other schools (particularly in the Ivy League) with similar results.  If it is a systemic issue, then I think there is a true opportunity to extend the learning environment beyond the classroom and help Middlebury students differentiate through accountability and professionalism not just today, but throughout their careers.

 -Recently received from alum at top-tier consulting firm.

Well, this is downright embarrassing. Believe us, we are blushing and looking down at our shoes on your behalf (especially you, #2, although congrats on being so popular around campus). Avoiding these faux pas might seem like common sense, but we are willing to bet that the students in the scenarios above are probably generally clever, thoughtful folks who are not usually so unscrupulous. The post-grad job search can be an intimidating, stressful, and at times awkward experience, which can make normally level-headed people do not-so-wise things. Here are some tips for remaining tactful as you network on MiddNet and elsewhere:

1) On remembering names: Do not, as I have been prone to do, assume that every man above a certain age who works in finance is named Steve. This very, very untrue. There are plenty of Roberts and Kenneths even the occasional Scott these days. Before sending an email, having a phone conversation, or meeting in person with a networking contact make sure to double-check who you’re meeting with and what position s/he holds within the company. And keep your scruples about you; never ask to be “funneled through” for a job, especially if you literally have no idea who you are talking to.

2) Plan ahead: find a quiet and secluded location to take your telephone call. Set aside a few minutes before the call to mentally prepare your talking points and questions for the kind soul who is taking the time out of his/her busy day to talk with you and answer your questions.

Suggestions for where to take a “professional” telephone call:

-Your empty room. Alone. Sans background noise.

-An empty classroom/study room.

Remember that your networking contact is doing you a favor by talking with you, not the other way around. We’re not saying you’re not awesome and it’s not great that your team is going to NESCACs next week and your thesis on feminist artists in Lisbon is not fascinating. Maybe just talk a little less about your awesome self and focus on what your contact is saying. And maybe don’t invite your networking contact to your a cappella group’s next concert in the Abernathy room. If you’re so worried about pushing ahead with your talking points, you could miss out on something important and also come off as insufferably pompous and self-absorbed. Also, for those of us with more severe phone phobia, it helps to write out questions and comments you might have, and maybe even little notes of encouragement in the margin (Way 2 Go, Sport! Buck up, little camper!)

3) If someone takes the time to reply to your query, say thank you! You always have time to send a quick, sincere thank-you, even if you are no longer pursuing the networking relationship. Nobody likes to feel as if they wasted their time by helping you out

Consider yourselves scolded. We still love you. We just want the best for you, so just don’t let this happen again, okay?

Happy (job) hunting!

Chen Lou ’11

Current role: Master of Management Studies candidate at Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Class year: 2012 (Middlebury College: 2011)
Major: Management Studies (Middlebury College: International Politics & Economics)

Where did your interest come from to pursue this program? I want to pursue a career in business, preferably in finance. First, this program shares the same resources with MBA students at Fuqua, such as professors, career-related information, etc. Second, this program targets towards students who do not have work experience, and most of them come from a liberal arts background. I consider this program as a perfect fit for my career goal.

What career opportunities are you looking to pursue after graduation from this program? I am looking into opportunities in finance, investment management to be specific.

How are you using your Middlebury degree? First, quick learning skills at Middlebury allow me to catch up quickly; even I didn’t take any accounting/finance related courses before. Second, my study abroad experience and my language skills that I had during my Middlebury experience differentiate me from other students in the program. Third, Middlebury alumni are still very helpful during my career searching process.

How will you use your program degree and your Middlebury degree in your future career? An IPE major gives me a global perspective and understanding to the world, and the MMS degree provides me with more specific business training that will be necessary in my future career.

What experience should a college student obtain to be marketable?
I consider study abroad a very valuable experience. Having the experience to be open and expose to different culture, and quickly adapt into it is a great skill to business. Also, internship experiences are also helpful for a college student to be marketable.

What skills do you think a person needs to be successful in your program?
Learn quickly and be open to changes. The program is very fast-paced, and lots of subjects are new to me. Also, good communication skills will allow you to be successful both in and out of the classroom. MMS focuses a lot on teamwork experience, and I think it will be hard to work with a team if a person doesn’t have good communication skills.

What skills are you gaining in your program that you will then apply to a career? First, quantitative skills I learned in Financial Accounting and Corporate Finance will certainly be helpful if I want to enter in finance. Second, professional and business communication skills both in writing and speaking will help me further in the business world. Last, career related workshops and symposiums will not only help me to be successful at my first job, but will be useful in the long run.

What do you like best/least about your program?
Definitely the people in my program, since the program itself has only 100 or so people, and everyone becomes close to each other very quickly. It is a very diverse, dynamic, and interesting group.

What does an average day or week look like for you?
Monday: Two classes, each 2 hour and 15 minutes
Tuesday: One Class
Wednesday: Career Day (also have Review Sessions for Classes)
Thursday: Same as Monday
Friday: Same as Tuesday, with Fuqua Friday in the evening to network with other Fuqua students. But I also spend a lot of time attending information sessions during the recruiting season, and reach to alumni. Adding up to various kinds of events and workshops, mock interviews, and so on. One can be quite busy during the week.

What books, web sites, or other resources should students take advantage of now to learn about the graduate school?
MMS Website: http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/
mms_foundations_of_business/
MMS Student Blog:
http://www.lukeatduke.com/

What do you think is the next step in your career plan?
I plan to keep reaching out to alumni to find out about more off-campus recruiting opportunities.

Venture for America, a new organization modeled after Teach for America, is recruiting recent college grads for a two-year entrepreneurship fellowship with the goal of boosting  emerging start-ups, and early-stage companies in lower-cost cities (e.g., Detroit, Providence, New Orleans).

Accepted fellows complete an extensive summer training program and are then placed with a start-up or early-stage company for two years. The application process is thorough and the selection process is competitive; VFA aims “will recruit the best and brightest college grads.”

To apply, visit the Venture for America website at: http://ventureforamerica.org/

We all have our dream city in which we imagine our future, freshly graduated selves. Perhaps you dream of burrowing in a Seattle houseboat, with a warm mug of fair-trade coffee and a misty view of the Space Needle from your window, or watching the sun rise in the Rocky Mountains, or hosting cramped dinner parties in a shoe-box New York apartment.

Check out GOOD Magazine’s Guide to Hustlin’ for some tips on the best cities to get your start when you’re young and broke!

You’ve got your resume down. Your cover letter is impeccable. You’ve exhausted drop-in hours at Career Services (hint, hint) and can give a practice interview in your sleep. What else can you do to prepare?

While we often emphasize obvious steps in the job search like resumes, cover letters, and the power of a firm handshake, establishing a career is so much bigger than that first interview and job offer. What do employers expect of recent college grads they hire? How can you meet (and exceed) their standards and make the most of your first work experience?

Click the link below to find a list by a College Coordinator and Career Counselor of the top 15 skills employers say college grads need to build healthy, happy careers:

College Grad Skills

What does Wonder Woman have to do with finding a job? How can changing the way you stand increase your ability to cope with stressful situations? What is a “power pose?” New research by a Harvard social psychologist suggests that body language is more important to an interview than you might think!

Click the link below to find out answers to the above questions and watch a video on how body language can affect your interview success:

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/innovation/the-power-of-power-posing/362?sid==3Dpt&utm_source=3Dpt&utm_medium=3Den=20

Teach For China Info Session Today, 4:30 MBH 104

Teach For China (TFC) is inspired by the vision that one day, all Chinese children will have access to a quality education.  Teach For China takes a unique approach to eliminating educational inequity by enlisting the US and China’s most promising future leaders in the effort.  In partnership with the global network Teach For All (www.teachforall.org), Teach For China recruits, selects, trains, and supports outstanding US and Chinese graduates to work side-by-side to deliver excellent education in high poverty, rural Chinese communities. As a fellow, you will be placed in full-time two-year teaching positions at under-resourced schools, where the need for exceptional educators is the greatest. Do your part to close the educational gap in China by applying to be a 2012-2014 Teaching Fellow!
Application Deadlines: Friday, October 28th, 2011
Sunday, January 8th, 2012
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Hope to see you there!

Middlebury swept the application numbers for the Eastern College Career Days (ECCD) in Boston next month. Middlebury had the most students out of eight participating schools (including Amherst, Bowdoin, Hamilton, and Wesleyan) register for the upcoming event on November 18th, with 82 students submitting 321 applications!

We couldn’t be prouder and wish all 82 Midd Kids luck in their interviews!

Seniors:  38 employers, 47 jobs, 1 day of interviews, in 1 Boston location.

Have you seen the ECCD poster that Career Services PCA Derek Matus created?  Did you receive the e-mail reminders about ECCD and tonight’s application deadline via the ECCD Web site?  Did you check out the awesome list of employers and the 48 jobs for which they will be interviewing in Boston on November 18th and submit your application materials?

If you answered no to any of these questions, you:

A.) Already have solid post-grad plans

B.) Are not interested in working/living in Boston

C.) Are in the process of uploading and submitted your application materials to the ECCD Web site at
http://eccdb.experience.com/er/security/login.jsp

D.)  Are just now hearing about this awesome program

If you answered C or D, you have only until 11:59 p.m. tonight to get your applications submitted!  There are some great opportunities for which you could be selected to interview, but you have to apply to them in order to be considered.

Program Date – Friday, November 18, 2011
Program Location: Back Bay Events Center, Boston, MA
Online Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 before 11:59 pm via the ECCD Web site (NOT MOJO)

Register and apply at:
http://eccdb.erecruiting.com/er/security/login.jsp

To Register:
Click on Register on the bottom left of the page under Student: Self-Register and check back daily/periodically as new employers are added. Here you can apply (submit resume, cover letters, and other materials as indicated in the job description and details, to each job that is of interest to you.

2011 Employers/Jobs Include:

Analysis Group, Inc. –    Analyst
APPRISE – Policy Analyst
Arnold Worldwide – Assistant Account Manager
Cambridge Associates LLC –    Consulting Associate and Private Investments Research Associate
Carney, Sandoe & Associates    – K-12 Teaching and  Administrative Jobs in Independent and Charter Schools
Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company –  PAID Internship
Compass Lexecon – Analyst
EF Education First – Tour Consultant
Epic -Implementation Consultant/Project Manager
Interfacing Wizard/Technical Project Manager
Problem Solver/Technical Consultant
Software Developer
FactSet Research Systems -Consultant
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston – Research Assistant
Grassroots Campaigns, Inc -Assistant Campaign Director
HighVista Strategies – Investment Analyst
Immune Disease Institute – Research Technician
John Hancock Financial Network – Boston Partners Financial Group, LLC     – Associate/Financial Advisor
NERA Economic Consulting – Research Associate
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (NMFN)
RetailNet – Research Analyst (Just added!)  
Shady Hill School -Apprentice Teacher
State Street – Professional Development Program
Tortoise Investment Management – Analyst
Triumvirate Environmental – Environmental Specialist
Unum – Professional Development and Actuarial Development Programs
The Greenwich Country Day School -Co-Teacher Program
The New England Center for Children -Level 1 and Level 2
Teachers for Children with Autism
The NorthBridge Group – Analyst

Questions? Contact:

Theresa Funk
Sr. Employer Relations Coordinator, Career Services
Center For Education In Action: Careers, Fellowships, & Civic Engagement
Middlebury College  |  Middlebury, VT 05753 | 802.443.5097

go.middlebury.edu/cso

Here are a few tips that schools.com suggested for college seniors in order to start laying out the groundwork for your first career steps:

1. Clean up your online image -Those tweets, blogs, facebook pictures can give you an online reputation!
2. Hang out at Career Services – Come chat with our counselors at Adirondack House. Look for updates on go/cso and go/mojo
3. Do not use a “cookie cutter” resume – Stand out! Do not copy resume and cover letter templates!
4. Get the 411 from the employer – Gear your resume to the employer, be specific!
5. Ask for references now – Don’t wait on this one!
6. Play the Kevin Bacon game -Six degrees of separation! Talk, ask, network! Don’t be shy!
7. Internships = Opportunities – Internships have been proven to lead to experience AND higher salaries!
8. Create a virtual version of you – Include your resume, references, writing samples, video clips and any other relevant materials

Check out the full article by Robert DiGiacomo on schools.com!

Current job title: Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP
Class year: 2005
Major: International Studies (Political Science/French)
Minor: Economics

Don’t forget to apply to the job at Deloitte by the deadline, Sunday, September 25. Go to MOJO now.

Where did your interest come from to work in this career?

After studying Political Science and Economics at Middlebury, then receiving my Masters at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, with a concentration in Global Commerce & Finance, I was looking for a management consulting career that focused on international development.

What are typical entry level positions in your field and what does a career path look like?

Students hired directly out of college, begin their careers with Deloitte Consulting as Analysts. Federal Analysts participate on project teams with professionals who have spent anywhere between a few months and their entire careers in consulting. Analysts will have the chance to take intensive strategy and management consulting training courses, teaching them how to storyboard and logically present information throughout their career.

How did you find the current position you have?

I applied for a position as a Strategy & Operations Consultant after graduating from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service.

How are you using your Middlebury degree?

Deloitte highly values degrees from Liberal Arts colleges, which teach us how to think, not what to think. Over the past two years, I’ve been able to use my writing skills tremendously on various engagements. Furthermore, my courses in international politics & economics have helped me on my current emerging markets engagements.

What experience should a college student obtain to be marketable?

Work experience or internships where students utilize the skills addressed in the above question are of great interest to Deloitte practitioners and all consulting firms! Demonstrated interest in politics and government are beneficial as well for this position.

What does an average day or week look like for you?

Consulting isn’t conducive to an ‘average day’. I spent some time developing a new air cargo security strategy at TSA, and am now heading to Zambia for a USAID global health supply chain assessment.

What books, web sites, or other resources should students take advantage of now to learn about the field?

Go to the Deloitte website!! Also, Cosentino’s Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation

What do you think is the next step in your career plan?

After close to two years at the firm, I was recently promoted to Senior Consultant. I’m going to focus on developing my career at Deloitte, and getting more international development consulting experience, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Current job title: Federal Analyst at Deloitte Consulting LLP
Class year: 2010.5
Major: Economics and Spanish

Don’t forget to apply to the job at Deloitte by the deadline, Sunday, September 25. Go to MOJO now.

Where did your interest come from to work in this career?

My interest in consulting stemmed from my desire to pursue a career that allowed for lifelong learning and growth. The best aspect of my Middlebury education was the breadth and scope of experiences afforded to me throughout my four years at college. Strategy consulting offers me a similar diversity of experiences. I develop and grow as a professional each and every day and apply new skills to projects that constantly evolve and adapt.

What are typical entry level positions in your field and what does a career path look like?

Students hired directly out of college, like me, begin their careers with Deloitte Consulting as Federal Analysts. Federal Analysts participate on project teams with professionals who have spent anywhere between a few months and their entire careers in consulting. Direct-from-college hires are on a career path to become Partners and Principals at Deloitte should they spend their career with Deloitte. Federal Analysts are generally promoted to Consultants after two years, and from there the career track continues to Senior Consultant, Manager, Senior Manager, and Partner/Principal/Director.

How did you find the current position you have?

I applied for my current position through MOJO on the Career Services Website in conjunction with Deloitte’s website.

How are you using your Middlebury degree?

My Middlebury degree is of tremendous use to me in my job with Deloitte. While aspects of my Economics major contribute to my work to a certain degree, it is the skills that all Middlebury students acquire that are most powerful at Deloitte. The ability to think critically and ask poignant questions, write and communicate clearly and logically, work in teams, adapt to change and stay organized are crucial skills, among many others, in strategy consulting.

What experience should a college student obtain to be marketable?

Work experience or internships where students utilize the skills addressed in the above question are of great interest to Deloitte practitioners and all consulting firms! Demonstrated interest in politics and government are beneficial as well for this position.

What do you like best/least about your work?

The people at Deloitte are truly fantastic. I work with a supportive, collaborative and talented team that deeply impacts the Client and their goals in tangible ways. One of the more difficult aspects of the job is the constant travel in and around the DC Metro Area! I typically do not know where I will be working the following day until the night before. Moving between the client site and Deloitte offices requires great flexibility so as to be prepared for a variety of different situations.

What does an average day or week look like for you?

No two weeks are ever the same! Each day brings new challenges and opportunities with the client and in internal Deloitte work. It really keeps you on your toes.

What books, web sites, or other resources should students take advantage of now to learn about the field?

The best consulting resource I can recommend to prepare for case study interviews is Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc P. Cosentino. It got me through recruiting season last fall.

What do you think is the next step in your career plan?

My next steps are undefined at this time. I eventually want to attend graduate school; however, I am unsure of the type of degree I will pursue. For the time being, I am truly thrilled to be working in the Federal Consulting Practice at Deloitte!

Save the date!

State Street Info Session – October 5th, 7:00 p.m. MBH 104

Alumni Career Profile Questions – Jack Klinck from State Street

Current job title: Executive Vice President, Management Committee Member

Class year: 1985

Major: Political Science

Where did your interest come from to work in this career?

It developed slowly but largely originated with an internship at American Express. I never thought I would be a banker and turned down these offers when I graduated in favor of a job in advertising.

What are typical entry level positions in your field and what does a career path look like?

There are several entry level positions from accounting to marketing to finance. Some stay indefinitely, but some may seek an MBA along the way.

How did you find the current position you have?

I was recruited by the CEO.

How are you using your Middlebury degree?

Every day it helps me to analyze and solve problems, ask tough questions and communicate.

What experience should a college student obtain to be marketable?

On-the-job training and internships.

What skills do you think a person needs to be successful in your position?

Critical thinking, excellent written and verbal communication, deep understanding of the global economy, and overseas assignments.

What do you like best/least about your work?

Best is working with a talented team, leading during a crisis, helping clients grow their businesses.

Least is the political/regulatory uncertainty affecting our industry.

 What does an average day or week look like for you?

There is no such thing. Every day is a different experience.

What books, web sites, or other resources should students take advantage of now to learn about the field?

The best resource is to talk to people in the industry. A dialogue is far more valuable than a website.

What do you think is the next step in your career plan?

Hopefully, up!!

Class of 2012 Seniors,

SAVE THE DATE:

Your Senior Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 20th.

Attend one of the following sessions in Dana auditorium:

12:30, 4:30 or 6pm

Your attendance is required to participate in Middlebury’s recruiting program.

For more information about your coming senior year experience go here http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/resources/cso/students/recruiting

Meanwhile, have a great summer; we’ll see you in September!