Career Center

What are Career Treks?

A Career Trek is a one to three-day opportunity exclusively for UNCW students to experience the culture at different companies and organizations in the Wilmington area and beyond. Career Treks typically consist of a tour, an overview of the company/organization, and an opportunity to network with key employees and decision makers.

In Spring 2018, 12 UNCW students traveled to Washington, D.C. for a tour of Politico Magazine Headquarters.

Student FAQs

What will I be doing on a Career Trek?

The Career Trek program is an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes perspective of an organization. Itineraries for career treks will vary, but you will likely:

Receive a tour of the facilities
Partake in a Q&A session with current employees
Network with professionals

How long does a Career Trek last?

The length of Career Treks vary by company, but most will last between 2-4 hours. Some overnight Career Treks may be available dependent on employer interest.

What should I wear?

Business casual attire is required for all Career Treks unless otherwise stated in the materials you receive after you register. Jeans of any color, shorts, and t-shirts are inappropriate attire for Treks and students will not be permitted to attend if they arrive dressed inappropriately for the event.

Check out our Professional Attire webpage to get some ideas.

Is transportation provided?

Transportation is provided for Career Treks participants. Students will be transported to and from campus by the care of University Career Center staff in university-owned vehicles.

What are the requirements to participate?

Most Career Treks target specific student populations by academic major, industry of interest, and/or class level. You will only be able to view Career Treks that fit you based off of the aforementioned descriptions. If you perform a search in the Events tab of your Handshake profile but do not see a Career Trek opportunity appear, please check back on a regular basis as opportunities may arise.

Is there a fee to participate in a Career Trek?

Student participation in most Career Treks are completely free. Some overnight Career Treks may require a payment. All fees and payment information will be clearly stated under each Career Trek opportunity in Handshake.

How do I prepare for a Career Trek?

Research the company/organization you will be visiting and develop a list of 5-10 engaging questions to ask employees during the Trek, such as

Could you explain your organizational structure?
How would you describe the organization’s workplace culture?
What makes a potential employee’s resume stand out from the rest?
What do you enjoy most about your work with this organization?

Also, prepare your 30-60 second “Elevator Pitch” before attending. Visit our Elevator Pitch webpage for more tips.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

Consider bringing a professional padfolio or notebook with you to take notes during the visit and collect contact information of the employees you meet. Write your questions down prior to the Trek to reference throughout the day.

Consider bringing several copies of your resume to provide to the host employer. Stop by the Career Center’s Express Hours Monday-Thursday, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for a quick, 15-minute resume review prior to the Career Trek.

What should I do after the Career Trek?

Follow up with a thank you email and/or LinkedIn message to the host employer.

What is the cancellation policy?

If you must cancel your Career Trek registration, you must email Casey Siega-Riz at siegarizc@uncw.edu), the Career Treks program manager, no later than 48 hours before the event. Career Treks frequently have wait lists for students to attend so please act quickly if you have to give up your spot to ensure one of your peers can attend in your place. For more information, please read our official No-Show Policy.

What happens if I don’t show up?

If you cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice and/or no-show to the Career Trek itself, you must write a letter of apology to the host employer within five days of the missed event. Students who do not comply within five business days of the missed Career Trek will be blocked in Handshake and unable to search jobs, use On-Campus Recruiting, etc., until their apology is received. For more information, please read our official No-Show Policy.