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:

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MCS WINTER RECESS & WINTERSESSION COLLEGE PROGRAMS:
JANUARY 5-23, 2026

           (All events are hosted on Zoom, except where noted.)

Tue, Jan 6:

• 1:00 – 2:00pm: Resume & LinkedIn Tips for Success

Wed, Jan 7:

• 1:00 – 1:30pm: Harvard CFV Fellowship in Pediatrics & Family Medicine Information Session

Sun, Jan 11:

• 11:55pm: Deadline for Applying to Intro to Creative Internship (Jan 22 – 23)

Mon, Jan 12:

• 12:00 – 1:00pm: Navigate Your Business Job & Internship Search: Live Q&A
• 3:00 – 4:00pm: Networking 101

Tue, Jan 13:

• 1:00 – 2:00pm: Navigate Summer Funding Opportunities [SFO Event]

Wed, Jan 14:

• 1:00 – 2:00pm: Applying to Deferred Enrollment MBA Programs

Thu, Jan 15:

• 1:00 – 2:00pm: Cover Letter Workshop

Wed, Jan 21:

• 3:00 – 4:00pm: Pre-Health Question Center
• 4:00 – 5:00pm: Public Service Job & Internship Search Orientation

Thu, Jan 22:

• 9:00am – 5:00pm: Intro to Creative Entrepreneurship (Two-Day Program, Thu & Fri, in-person. Application Deadline is Jan 11.)

Fri, Jan 23:

3:00 – 3:45pm: Science, Research and Innovation: Job & Internship Search Success Series

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INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sponsored by the Office for the Arts & the Mignone Center for Career Success
Two-Day In-Person Program: January 22 & 23 2026

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 AT 11:59 ET

Are you an entrepreneurial student looking to build a dynamic skill set to market yourself as a creative leader—or to launch a new project? 
Not sure whether you identify more as an entrepreneur or an artist? You don’t need to choose. 

Join us for a two-day Winter Session program designed to help you recognize the skills you already have and adopt an entrepreneurial mindset for building something new, sparking collaborations, and staying curious. 

Over two days, you’ll participate in workshops with creative entrepreneurs, sessions with keynote artists, lunch with Harvard faculty and staff, and guided time to ideate, refine, and shape your ideas into an actionable plan with a clear trajectory. You’re welcome to bring a project you’d like to develop—but it’s not required. This program is an introduction to approaching your work with the perspective of an entrepreneurial artist. 

In this program, you will: 

• Engage in dialogue with leading creative-sector entrepreneurs 
• Develop and refine personal ideas and projects 
• Discover on-campus resources and programming to support your path 
• Learn how to access creative partners, funding opportunities, and best practices 
• Design values-based objectives, pitch decks, and personal branding 

Learn with Jim Augustine ’01, a media entrepreneur whose career has spanned theater, film, publishing, technology and business consulting; Sam Magee, Director of the Lemann Program for Creative Entrepreneurship; Rohit Deshpande, Professor at the Harvard Business School, and other local leaders, entrepreneurs and alumni.  

Leave empowered to make creative visions a reality on your unique path to success! 

Click here to register.

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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 5-23, 2026. 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 2026 experiences. If the opportunity is not remote, students will be responsible for their own travel and housing expenses.

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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!

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