For some Elon University students, Fall Break will be a time for professional development and networking.
During break, the university is offering City Treks, a program that enables students to travel to North Carolina businesses and meet directly with employers. Elon has put on similar events in the past, but this is the first formal year for the program.
The trips will visit Charlotte, Winston-Salem and the Raleigh Research Triangle.
Final registration for this program is due Oct. 7.
Sarah Thomas, associate director of corporate and employer relations for the Love School of Business, said the visits offer students a deeper level of exposure to businesses in which they may be interested.
“When a company comes to campus, it’s usually a campus recruiter,” Thomas said. “The City Trek enables them to actually see the place and get a sense of the culture.”
To put it another way, Thomas compared City Treks to visiting a college campus versus having a college recruiter visit a high school.
“They’re going to hear from someone in that actual line of business they’re interested in,” Thomas said.
Sophomore Cabe Sullivan said he sees City Treks as a way to get a foot in the door with internship applications.
“Even if this trip doesn't help me with getting an internship I know it will help me better understand the real life side of business and will hopefully begin to help me figure out what I want to do with my career,” Sullivan said.
Thomas said City Treks could help students be identified early by employers as potential job candidates.
“It shows that recruiter that you’re interested,” Thomas said. “You can meet that recruiter before you even apply.”
Sophomore Adam Gill said he signed up for City Treks because he thinks it will help him network with those in his desired line of work.
“I feel the program can help me relate to what I am learning in class and actually see it being implemented in real life,” Gill said. “Also, it may help give me a direction of what I specifically want to do.”
Thomas also said City Treks could expand to more cities in the future, as Elon has done similar programs in New York.
Some students who applied were interested in the specific cities themselves.
“I know Charlotte is the business capital of the state. I am actually planning on living in Charlotte after I graduate from college,” said freshman Kennedy Ojimadu. “Basically, City Treks is advantageous in every way for me because I can see the city of Charlotte and be able to learn about, and possibly network with, people from the career field that I am interested in.”
Students who have signed up for City Treks come from a variety of majors, including strategic communications, business and biology.
“We wanted to get business, communications and arts and science students,” Thomas said.
The visits offer students future career opportunities, according to Thomas, because students will not only get to meet senior level executives, but they will also get a chance to network with alumni.
“We can do that on campus, but it’s not guaranteed that a recruiter will bring an alumnus when they visit,” Thomas said.
Senior Chiara Posati said she is especially looking forward to meeting Elon graduates at the businesses she’ll be visiting on the City Treks.
“Getting the opportunity to network with Elon alumni is really beneficial because they have all had similar experiences and understand Elon students,” Posati said. “Elon's alumni network is known for being really helpful when looking for a job so I am hoping they can help me, as well.”
The City Trek visits will take place Oct. 14-15.