Harvard College encourages undergraduates to take time during the Winterbreak to refresh and recharge. The Mignone Center for Career Success is one of numerous Harvard centers and departments that offer some limited programming during the Winterbreak and Wintersession periods.
Winter Recess
Undergraduate students who wish to engage in activities during the break may consider:
- Connecting with an organization at home.
- Participating in a short-term internship or job shadow.
- Becoming an Arts & Museums Intern.
- Joining the Mignone Center for Career Success for a career exploration Site Visit.
- Connecting with an alumni mentor with our Firsthand Advisors Platform.
Winterbreak can also be a nice time to plan ahead for your summer or post-grad job search.
Learn about our Events and Programming during Winter Recess:
MCS WINTER RECESS & WINTERSESSION COLLEGE PROGRAMS:
JANUARY 4-24, 2027
WINTER BREAK EXPERIENCES
Intern or shadow an alum or employer in January!
Alumni and employers may offer internships (paid or unpaid) or job-shadowing experiences between January 4-24, 2027. These experiences allow students to observe and ask questions, gain hands-on experience, learn about an organization or industry, and build relationships.
Here are examples of activities you may engage in during a job shadow experience (many can be done remotely):
- Shadowing an alum or employer on a typical workday
- Attending workplace meetings
- Conducting informational interviews with staff
- Undertaking a voluntary small project or relevant research assignment
- Serving alongside an employer in volunteer work
- Discussing industry trends and an organization’s mission
- Participating in an educational tour conducted by the office or organization
Search for a Winter Break Experience
Students are encouraged to create an independent job shadow experience by connecting with alumni directly. Winter Break Experiences are also posted in Crimson Careers and may be offered by an alum, an employer, or in conjunction with a Harvard affiliate (e.g. the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship).
Log in to Crimson Careers and select “Winter Break Experience” as the position type to search all postings.
- Note that Winter Break Experiences are typically posted from September through November.
- Internships may be paid or unpaid. Job shadowing experiences are typically unpaid.
- Note that we are unable to provide funding for January experiences. If the opportunity is not remote, students will be responsible for their own travel and housing expenses.
FLASH MENTORING MONTH
JANUARY IS “FLASH MENTORING” MONTH
Over 3,500 Harvard alumni representing a variety of fields and professions have signed up on the Firsthand Advisors platform to connect with you. January is a great time to get advice on different career pathways, strengthen your informational interviewing skills, and expand your network.
What it is:
A platform that connects you with Harvard alumni from around the world for a:
- Career conversation,
- Resume review, or
- Mock interview.
What to do:
Search alumni profiles and sign up for informal conversations with alumni that interest you.
How to do it:
Go to the Firsthand platform, click the “Get Advice” button, and set up a password. Then use the platform to search, message, and schedule a meeting time with an alum.
What to say:
Check out our tips and questions (pdf) to prepare and to get the most out of your “Flash Mentoring” discussion. Questions might include:
- What was your first job after you left Harvard?
- How did you spend your summers while you were an undergraduate?
- What skills did you learn at Harvard that have helped you throughout your career?
- What are your favorite parts of your job? What do you find most challenging?
- What changes have you seen in your industry given the COVID pandemic?
- Based on my skills, education, and experience, what other career paths do you suggest I explore?
- Who else would you recommend I speak with?
Explore options, get connected, and jump start your career during Flash Mentoring Month!
HARVARDWOOD 101 PROGRAM
| Applications are open for the Harvardwood 101 January 2027 Program. Deadline is Sunday, October 18, 11:59pm. Click here to apply. Interested in the entertainment industry? Harvardwood is an alumni shared interest group open to the broader Harvard community, including students, interested in the arts and entertainment. The Harvardwood 101 career exploration program is an entertainment “bootcamp” week taking place in Los Angeles in early January 2027. Participating companies in recent years include Anonymous Content, Amazon Studios, BMG Music Group, CAA, HBO/Max, Echo Lake, Rideback, Spotify, UTA, and more! An OPTIONAL virtual or in-person Winternship experience will take place after the 101 bootcamp week. |
To apply for Harvardwood101, you must be:
- A current student of Harvard College. Due to limited space, there is a preference for Juniors and Seniors for the in-person Harvardwood101 Bootcamp.
- A dues-current Full Member of Harvardwood*
- Join Harvardwood here: https://www.harvardwood.org/membership-hub
- *Harvard College students who receive financial aid may apply to the 101 bootcamp before becoming a Harvardwood member.
- In good standing with your Proctor or House Resident Tutor
If accepted, the program fee is $1500. All Harvard College students who currently receive financial aid are eligible to receive funding from the Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) for the Harvardwood 101 Boot Camp program fee (which includes housing), a $700 travel stipend, and one year of Harvardwood membership. Students who are offered and opt into an in-person Winternship experience will need to do so at their own expense; there will be no University resources available to support travel, accommodations, food, or other living expenses during the program. There will be a limited number of homestay opportunities available through Harvardwood (typically guest rooms in the homes of alumni), based on need and given out via lottery.
ARTS & MUSEUMS JANUARY INTERNSHIPS
Are you looking to build skills and experience at an arts organization? Interested in a transformative, project-based three-week experience?
This program, occurring January 4-24, 2027 places students into full-time, project-based internships at area arts organizations and museums during Winter break. Participating organizations include the Harvard Carpenter Center for Visual Studies, Boston Center for the Arts, Dumbarton Oaks, Multicultural Arts Center, Pao Arts Center, The Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, The Signet Society, Charles River Museum of Industry and Boston Lyric Opera.
See the list of internships. Applications are open are in Crimson Careers. Deadline is Sunday, October 18, 11:59pm
Projects can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual depending on organization and student preferences. All interns will receive a $750 stipend through the Mignone Center for Career Success and on-campus housing (subject to availability).
Students applying for an Arts & Museums Winter Internship who require on-campus housing must also apply for Wintersession housing before the Housing Office’s Round 1 deadline Winter Recess Housing – College Housing. Please note that you do not need to have interviewed for or received an internship offer in order to submit this housing application. Applying by the deadline is necessary to avoid the $50 late application fee assessed by the Housing Office. Other internships take place outside of Boston and provide their own housing.
