The UNC Technology Trek organized each year during the fall break is a unique career exploration opportunity that allows students to travel to several tech companies on the West Coast in order to gain insight into career fields of interest. The trek is organized by Kenan-Flagler’s Business Technology club and is supported by Career Advisors and other members of the Career Management Center. The trek is designed to give students a practical understanding of day to day operations in their field of interest, discuss specific jobs and career paths within each organization, and find the best way to successfully find a career in that field. Participating students are able to expand their professional network through official visits, as well as networking socials organized with local alumni groups Each company visit is set up differently catering to the strengths of the organization, lasting anywhere from 2-5 hours.
Students who have been a part of previous treks have found the trek beneficial in clarifying their career goals, feeling more confident in networking situations, and finding out whether a particular career field matches their interests, skills, and values. This makes the trek ideal for those who have a passion for working in the tech sector, as well as those who are exploring a switch to this industry.
Signups for the trek are on a first come first serve basis and usually start a month before the trek. The trek can accommodate not more than 30-35 students. This restriction is put in place because host companies prefer to keep the batch of students visiting at that number, or less. It is essential to know that there are many students with a genuine interest in visiting the companies. As such, it is encouraged that those students who are unsure of their plans and cannot commit to participating in the trek in its entirety restrict themselves from singing up. The costs for travel and lodging are borne by the students who choose to go on the trek. The BTC leadership team members, especially those who have been on previous treks, are more than willing to share their experiences and suggestions in this regard. Alumni and Corporate Relations liaisons to the BTC work tirelessly with company representatives to finalize list the schedule of the trek. It is their priority to plan visits to a variety of organizations and cater to the different interests that students wish to pursue. The companies visited last year include Microsoft, Amazon, Lyft, Google, Salesforce.com, HP, Facebook, Twilio, and Dropbox.
A typical day in the week of the career trek starts with the group of students reporting to the host organization scheduled for a visit in the morning. Companies usually organize a tour of their premises, discussion panels with alum or professionals from various divisions, and sometimes a light meal. In order to maximize the number of companies visited, a similar schedule is planned in the afternoons with another company. E.g. 2016 UNC Tech Trek covered Microsoft and Amazon on the first day of the trek in Seattle in the morning and afternoon respectively. Evenings provide the best time for happy hours and informal networking events with local alums. As part of the 2016 UNC Tech Trek students had three opportunities to interact and network with alum at happy hours, one each at Seattle, San Jose, and San Francisco. Some evenings are free for students to explore the cities or travel.
Please keep in mind that a visit to any company does not guarantee inclusion in their recruitment process or a preference when you apply. The trek is solely for interactions and explorations. It is the responsibility of the students to research companies, ask questions, and gain clarity on their fit from the trip. It is encouraged to collect contact details of the people you speak with at an organization. The best way to show interest in a company or position is to remain in touch with the people you meet and express genuine interest in your pursuits. You are free to leverage the contacts you make during the trip to further your interactions with the organizations and explore your opportunities there. However, all communication must be formal and follow guidelines laid out by the CMC.
Business Technology Club | UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School 