Middlebury Institute graduates discuss where they are working today, how the Institute helped them get there, and what advice they’d give to current and future MIIS students.
My name is Amelia Evrigenis and I graduated from the Middlebury Institute in 2020 with an MA in Translation and Localization Management (TLM). I interned in production at InterEcho (Los Angeles, California) and I am currently working as a translation project manager at IXL Learning (Research Triangle, North Carolina).
No Internship Posting? Just Reach Out!
As a student at the Middlebury Institute, I noticed that InterEcho had posted a full-time producer position on our jobs posting board. Once I learned that they were located in Los Angeles and specialized in transcreation, I knew I had to ask about a potential internship. I did some more research on the company and emailed the founders to ask if they’d consider hiring a summer intern. They replied and we set up an interview. It’s always worth it to reach out with your résumé. Just because they haven’t posted an official internship doesn’t mean they’re not open to hiring.
It’s always worth it to reach out with your résumé. Just because they haven’t posted an official internship doesn’t mean they’re not open to hiring.
Road to IXL
I can’t think of an experience at MIIS that didn’t help get me to my role at IXL. I gained the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in my role. I benefited specifically from my localization project management courses with Professor Alaina Brandt, particularly from her teaching on effective project management processes and documentation.
Outside of the classroom, I traveled to Cuba during spring break as part of an eight-day immersion trip led by George Henson, a professor in our translation and interpretation programs. Individual career advising with Career Services was also really helpful. Winnie Heh helped me customize my résumé for the localization industry, and the mock interview sessions built my confidence.
The Value of a Master’s Degree
The specialized knowledge and hands-on experience that students gain at the Institute are invaluable, and I believe that this degree of attention is rare in the localization field. Your MIIS degree is really worth something. Trust it!
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