Seniors and Recent Grads: Your 30-Day Momentum Plan

You don’t need a ‘perfect’ plan right now.

You just need momentum.

Whether you’re actively applying, waiting to hear from employers, rethinking your original plan, or unsure of what’s next, this page is here to help you choose one focus for the next 30 days and take a few meaningful steps forward.

First, a quick reminder

Feeling behind doesn’t mean you ARE behind.

Consider February a reset point where progress can look like:

• Clarifying what matters
• Practicing before it “counts”
• Exploring without committing
• Asking better questions
• Taking one step instead of ten (we know that is hard for a lot of Middlebury students).

Choose the path that feels most helpful right now. You can always switch later.

Choose Your 30-Day Focus

If you’re actively applying (or about to be):

You’re sending applications, targeting your résumés, refining materials, or getting ready to hit “submit.”

Start here:

• Career Community Newsletters: Get job and internship opportunities, timelines, and advice specific to your field of interest. These are written and curated by CCI advisors who know the landscape.
• Résumé and Cover Letter Support: Come to Quick Questions to meet with a Peer Career Advisor and have your résumé reviewed, meet with a career advisor, or review our CCI Guides to tighten your materials before the next round.
• Midd2Midd: Identify alumni at organizations you’re applying to and get guidance on how to reach out thoughtfully.

Goal for the month: Fewer, stronger applications, with clearer intent.

If interviews are coming up (or you want to be ready)

Phone screens, first rounds, and “this moved fast” interviews are happening right now.

Start here:

• Big Interview: Practice mock interviews, review common questions, and get feedback on your responses… all on your schedule.
• Interview Prep Resources: Learn how to talk about your experiences clearly and confidently, even if your path isn’t linear.
• Middlebury Career Closet: Look and feel confident for interviews and networking. CCI helps connect you with professional attire, and styling support. Financial aid is available for those in need.

Goal for the month: Walk into interviews feeling prepared.

If you’re still exploring or rethinking your plan

Changing direction, adding backup options, or admitting, “I’m not sure yet” is very normal.

Start here:

• Handshake Resources: Explore industries, roles, and pathways you might not have considered yet.
• GoinGlobal: Research job markets by location or country, explore global opportunities, and understand work authorization basics.
• Career Conversations: Talk through options with a career advisor, or alumni mentor/volunteer to pressure-test ideas.

Goal for the month: Get clearer on what’s next.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, tired, or stuck

You’re not unmotivated, you’re human. This is a demanding stretch and we are here to help.

Start here:

• Senior Check-Ins: Focused conversations to talk through what’s swirling, what’s next, and what matters right now.
• Drop-Ins and Programming: Low-pressure ways to ask questions and get unstuck. Come to Quick Question drop-in hours and check out our spring events* for something you might be interested in.
• Career Communities: Let relevant opportunities and guidance come to you instead of searching endlessly.

*Note: our events are changing weekly, so keep checking back.

Goal for the month: Get clearer on what’s next.

Do One Thing This Week

Momentum comes from doing one helpful thing and then another. This week, consider:

• Choosing your career communities
• Practicing one mock interview question
• Reaching out to one alum
• Updating one résumé bullet
• Scheduling one conversation

You don’t have to do this alone

CCI is here to support you this semester and beyond. You’re allowed to move forward without having everything figured out.

One month. One focus. Momentum.