Fast-Track Your Future: Actionable Career Exploration for College Students
If you’re a current or soon-to-be college student, feeling anxious about your career plans is expected. You might encounter questions from others like, “Have you thought about internships yet?” or “Why haven’t you started networking?” which can add to the pressure. But don’t worry—that is what University Career Services is here for!
In this blog post, we discuss an excellent resource offered through the St. John’s University Career Services office called Career Treks, designed to assist you in your career exploration journey.
What is a Career Trek?
Simply put, a career trek is a company site visit. Every semester, the St. John’s Employer Relationsteam creates a schedule of treks that allow students to connect with employers representing various industries.
During the spring semester, University Career Services offered 11 career treks to students. Employers represented a robust range of industries, including Fanatics, Madison Square Garden, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., to name a few!
Watch a “Day in the Life: Career Trek to EY in Manhattan.”
Fuel Your Future: Five Reasons to Attend a Career Trek
Attending a career trek is truly a unique and unforgettable experience! Here are five reasons to consider attending.
1. Explore Career Paths.
Whether you’re set on finance or nursing, career treks benefit everyone. Even outside your current interests, valuable insights can be gained. We highly recommend attending treks in diverse industries—you might discover hidden passions and unexpected possibilities!
2. Make Real-World Connections.
Career treks are goldmines for networking. Connect with industry professionals—including successful alumni, potential mentors—and build meaningful connections beyond LinkedIn.
3. Gain Insider Knowledge.
Career treks provide an excellent opportunity to learn about a profession from those who work in it. You will have the chance to hear from industry insiders about trends, challenges, and opportunities within the field. This firsthand insight is invaluable and cannot be found in textbooks or online. Furthermore, career treks offer a chance to improve your industry-specific vocabulary and enhance your résumé.
4. Explore New Places and Cultures.
Exploring new places and cultures is a great way to broaden your horizons and better understand the world. Participating in a career trek can allow you to witness different lifestyles, workplaces, and cultures firsthand. This exposure can help you appreciate how people live and work and even change your thoughts about where you want to start your career.
5. Connect with Your Peers.
Career treks are meant not only to meet industry professionals, but also to build bonds with fellow students. You can share your experiences, create a support network, and learn from different perspectives. Together, you can navigate the career exploration process and form lasting friendships.
Day in the Life: What to Expect on a Career Trek
You tour the company office.
First, you get to tour the company office—and trust me when we say we've seen some cool offices! Check out the pictures from a career trek with St. John’s University to the Fanatics office in New York City, where our group saw unique sports memorabilia.
Related: Gain Career Tips from the Fanatics Team in a career trek video.
You learn about internships and job opportunities.
Many companies use career treks to recruit students for internships and full-time positions, so be sure to ask about any openings that might be a good fit for you. You can also use this opportunity to make a good impression on employers so they remember you when they seek to fill positions.
Related: Watch a video about a career trek to Tao Uptown in New York City.
You participate in informational sessions.
During informational sessions, you get a chance to learn about the different departments and teams within the office. This helps you gain better insight into each team’s work and helps you identify roles you may be interested in pursuing in the future.
Explore Careers with St. John’s University Career Services Resources.
To sign up for a future career trek at St. John’s or to learn about available options, log onto your student Handshake account. In addition, get the latest updates on treks and campus events through the St. John’s Career Services team on Instagram @GetHiredStJohns.
