How should career centers prepare students for career treks?
Prepare students by requiring company research, hosting a pre-trek orientation, and refining resumes and profiles. Teach basic networking, equip them with thoughtful questions, and prompt timely, personalized follow-ups.
Career treks are a powerful way for students to connect with professionals, explore industries, and visualize their futures.
A recent study found that 39% of students visit their career center for help with job search strategies, highlighting how crucial these resources are in guiding students toward success.
But here's the catch: students need to be well-prepared to make the most of these opportunities.
If you’re a career counselor or part of a career services team, you know the importance of setting students up for success.
So, let’s dive into 5 practical ways to prepare students for career treks.
1. Start with Research: Know Before They Go
Encourage students to dig into the basics before they step foot in a company’s office.
Understanding the organization, its values, and the industry as a whole is key to making a strong impression.
- Actionable Tip: Provide students with a simple checklist. Include items like researching the company’s history, recent news, and key people they might meet.
- Why It Works: Walking in informed shows respect for the professionals’ time and helps students ask meaningful questions, not ones easily answered on Google.
Pro Tip: Host a Pre-Trek Orientation - walk students through what to expect, dress codes, and behavioral tips. Keep it light but informative.
Also Read: 5 ways to boost student engagement in career treks
2. Polish Those Resumes (and LinkedIn Profiles)
Career treks often lead to networking opportunities. Whether it’s handing out resumes or connecting on LinkedIn afterward, students should put their best foot forward.
- Actionable Tip: Host a resume workshop or offer access to a resume-building tool that tailors documents to the industries being visited. If time is tight, create templates for students to customize.
- Why It Works: A polished resume or LinkedIn profile creates a professional first impression and makes students stand out in follow-ups.
Also Read: Hiration vs BigInterview: the better alternative for your carer center
3. Teach Networking 101
Not every student is a natural networker, and that's okay! But networking is often the most valuable part of career treks, so they need to know how to approach it confidently.
- Actionable Tip: Role-play common scenarios with students. Practice introducing themselves, asking engaging questions, and gracefully exiting conversations.
- Why It Works: With practice, students feel less intimidated and can build genuine connections instead of stumbling through awkward small talk.
Also Read: 5 ways to build strong employer partnerships for career treks
4. Prep Them for Thoughtful Questions
Asking good questions is a superpower. It shows curiosity and can help students leave a lasting impression. The key? Prepare questions ahead of time.
- Actionable Tip: Share a guide with sample questions tailored to different industries. Examples could include, “What trends are shaping your work?” or “What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on recently?”
- Why It Works: Thoughtful questions spark meaningful conversations and help students gain deeper insights into the field.
Also Read: Reasons Why Career Treks Transform Career Exploration
5. Encourage Reflective Follow-Up
The trek doesn’t end when students leave the building. Following up with the professionals they meet is just as important as the trek itself. A well-crafted thank-you note can solidify connections and keep doors open.
- Actionable Tip: Provide students with email templates to personalize and send within 24 hours of the visit. Emphasize including something specific from their conversation to make the note memorable.
- Why It Works: A strong follow-up shows gratitude and professionalism, making students more likely to be remembered for future opportunities.
Also Read: Is Hiration a better alternative to VMock?
The Bottom Line
When students feel ready, they can focus on building connections and soaking in the experience instead of worrying about the basics.
Plus, it reflects well on your career services team when students show up polished and professional.
At Hiration, we take career readiness a step further.
Trusted by top institutions such as NYU Stern and NJIT, our platform offers personalized resume optimization, tailored interview practice, and increases student engagement by up to 5x.
Book a personalized demo today and see how we can help elevate your career center’s resources, giving students the support they need to thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are career treks?
Career treks let you connect with professionals, explore industries, and visualize your future.
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How should students research companies before a career trek?
Research the organization’s history, recent news, and key people, plus its values and industry. Walking in informed shows respect for professionals’ time and helps you ask meaningful questions, not ones easily answered on Google.
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Should you host a pre-trek orientation?
Host a pre-trek orientation to walk students through what to expect, dress codes, and behavioral tips. Keep it light but informative.
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Is a resume workshop or templates better for trek prep?
Run a resume workshop or offer access to a resume-building tool tailored to the industries being visited; if time is tight, create templates for students to customize.
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How should students practice networking for a career trek?
Role-play common scenarios by introducing themselves, asking engaging questions, and gracefully exiting conversations. With practice, students feel less intimidated and can build genuine connections instead of stumbling through awkward small talk.
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What thoughtful questions should students prepare for employer meetings?
Prepare questions ahead of time, such as “What trends are shaping your work?” or “What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on recently?” Thoughtful questions spark meaningful conversations and help students gain deeper insights into the field.
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When should students send follow-up emails after a career trek?
Send personalized thank-you emails within 24 hours of the visit and include something specific from your conversation. A strong follow-up shows gratitude and professionalism.
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What mistakes should students avoid during career treks?
Avoid asking questions easily answered on Google and stumbling through awkward small talk. Walk in informed to show respect for professionals’ time and build genuine connections.
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Is a career trek a good place to hand out resumes or connect on LinkedIn?
Yes, career treks often lead to networking opportunities, so hand out resumes or connect on LinkedIn afterward. A polished resume or LinkedIn profile creates a professional first impression.
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What should a pre-trek research checklist include?
Include researching the company’s history, recent news, and key people students might meet. Understanding the organization, its values, and the industry helps you make a strong impression.
