Welcome to MiddNet
MiddNet is an organization of Middlebury College alumni who have volunteered their time and expertise to assist with career networking. MiddNet serves both students and alumni, and has grown in recent years to include more than 8,000 alumni from nearly every state in the U.S. and many foreign countries.
The primary way students and alumni contact volunteers is through MiddNet Online, a password-protected database connected to the Middlebury website. Volunteers can choose what contact information they wish to have displayed, and only that information will be available to those seeking career advice.
Alumni who have been part of MiddNet for some time know that there can be great rewards in participating in the network: a chance to give back to the college by offering professional expertise while making meaningful and often lasting connections with Middlebury students and graduates. We are grateful to you for volunteering your time and knowledge.
This publication has been designed to address some "Frequently Asked Questions" about the network and to serve as a reference tool for volunteers serving as advisors.
What expectations does the college have of alumni who agree to serve as career advisors?
As a MiddNet volunteer, you may be contacted by students and other alumni to share information regarding your career path, your employer, job hunting strategies unique to your industry, opportunities in your field or what your city is like. You will be expected to keep your MiddNet online profile up to date to reflect any changes in your employment or contact information.
The initial contact you have with an advisee will be via one of the methods noted as your preference on MiddNet Online: letter, e-mail, or a phone call. You may also choose to invite individuals who have contacted you to your office for informational interviews. Advisees will be made aware that your primary role is to provide advice and information; you should not be approached as an employment contact, though you may choose to share job leads if you wish. Please note that since advisees can search for contacts directly on MiddNet Online, the Career Services Office may not have worked with them. Some students will be better prepared than others. We encourage you to notify the Executive Director if you feel you have been contacted inappropriately.
Below is a sampling of the types of questions you may be asked by individuals seeking you out as a MiddNet volunteer:
Questions about you:
How did you first get interested in this line of work? What has been your career path?Does your work relate to any academic experiences or studies you pursued while at Middlebury?How did other aspects of your Middlebury experience prepare you for this career?What do you enjoy most and least about your work in this industry and why?What is your typical day like? What kind of hours do you work? Are they flexible?Are there particular lifestyle choices you have made on account of the type of work you do?
Questions about your organization:
What is a typical career path in this organization? What are some of the most challenging entry level opportunities?Does your employer offer any type of training program? What skills and/or experience are necessary?What are the prospects for advancement?What is your organization's mission?How would you describe the culture or work environment and the people with whom you work?How do liberal arts graduates fare at your company/organization vs. those with more technical or vocational training?
Questions about your career field:
What type of education or training is recommended or necessary to excel in this field?What are the typical jobs, particularly at the entry level? What is the salary range for these positions?Can you recommend specific trade journals, publications, or web site resources that would be particularly helpful for conducting research about this field?Among my strongest assets are (skills, areas of knowledge, personality traits, and values): where might they fit into this field?Who else might you recommend I approach for advice about entering this particular field?How welcoming is this field to women, people of color, and members of other underrepresented groups? Do professional networks exist that provide support to individuals like myself who are seeking to enter this field?
What are some of the other ways alumni can provide career related support to Middlebury students and graduates?
There are a number of ways, depending on your preferences. As a MiddNet volunteer, you are not expected to provide more than general information. That said, some volunteers have offered to provide feedback on resumes and cover letters or coaching on job search strategies that are specific to the industry. Others have provided names of people within their organization (or other employers) whom the student or graduate can contact by using their name, if they feel so inclined. The ball is in your court, and of course we deeply appreciate whatever extra time and attention you are willing to offer to a particular individual.
On a broader scale, there are numerous ways to support career development at Middlebury. Here are just a few possibilities:
Encourage your organization to participate in Middlebury's recruiting programs.Notify us of full-time, internship, winter break, and summer job opportunities for both students and alumni.Volunteer to organize a career-related program through the Middlebury Chapter in your area.Participate in Chapter-sponsored networking receptions and encourage your friends within the region to do the same.Update your alumni record through MiddNet or contact the Alumni Records Office if you change jobs or your residence.
Who has access to the network?
Anyone with a Middlebury ID and PIN (personal identification number) has access to MiddNet Online. In addition to all Middlebury undergraduate students, all alumni (including both undergraduate, Language School and Bread Loaf) and parents have official IDs and PINs.
Can all advisors expect to be contacted by students or Middlebury graduates?
It is our sincere hope that you will be contacted, but there is no guarantee. By being part of the network, however, you will receive periodic communication from the College about the network's activities and an update on events offered for the benefit of students and alumni. MiddNet volunteers are often invited to participate in career panel discussions on campus, workplace site visits, and networking events held off campus in conjunction with the Middlebury Chapters.
Are students and graduates given guidelines on how to approach alumni networking purposes?
Yes. In addition, the Career Services Office staff regularly offers networking workshops for the benefit of students on campus. A copy of our handout is available online at /offices/cso/achieve/networking/. The guidelines are also connected to every search result within MiddNet Online.
Listing Jobs/Internships
For on and off-campus recruiting and posting full-time jobs for current students, contact Terri Jackman, Employer Relations Coordinator, tjackman@middlebury.edu, 802-443-2485.
To post internships, externships, or summer jobs for current students, contact Susan Walker, Associate Director for Internships, swalker@middlebury.edu, 802-443-5407.
To contact members of the Alumni Association Career Services Committee, call the Alumni & Parent Programs Office at 802-443-5183.