By Laura Rodell

A new program that helps college sophomores and juniors prepare for their first post-college steps, offers week-long journeys to businesses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, opportunities to network with employers and advice from mentors.

Students accepted into one of Career Trek’s nine summer programs travel to approximately 12 businesses within a week.

Peter Howley, Career Treks chief executive officer, said a chartered motorcoach will transport students from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore; Harrisburg, Pa.; Philadelphia; Richmond, Va.; and surrounding areas.

On these excursions, students visit companies that have paid a fee to act as hosts and potential recruiters. Employers and entrepreneurs provide insight into their fields, job-hunting tips and information on entry-level positions in their organizations. Students may even speak with the representatives one-on-one for more personalized guidance.

Students typically visit two to three businesses per day, spending between two and three hours at each one, Howley said.

“There is an intentional mix of businesses from consulting firms to financial service firms to distribution firms – because different types of companies all need talent,” he said.

Mentors also accompany students on their travels, dispensing first-hand advice and pointers about the business world.

“They are a response to the generation gap between college students and those who graduated over 10 years ago,” Howley said. “Our mentors are in their 20s and have already made many of the business decisions students will be facing. They can tell students what strategies worked for them and what didn’t.”

Howley added that mentors can provide objective advice to students because they are not recruiters for a particular company, but rather guided by a desire to see students succeed.

“They’re like camp counselors who honestly advise students on what the business world is about based on their first-hand experience,” Howley said.

Enrolled students also receive classroom instruction in résumé and cover-letter writing, interviewing techniques and general career counseling.

University students were generally optimistic about the innovative program.

“I think it’s a good idea because there are a lot of students here interested in activities like that over the summer,” Mari Luz, sophomore business major, said.

Howley, a Harvard Business School graduate, said he was inspired to launch Career Treks after several graduates published a book and produced a documentary about their experiences visiting businesses across the nation.

Released in 2003, the works sparked interest among students and led to the creation of Roadtrip Nation, an organization that helps small groups of students arrange such tours, Howley said.

During his years in business school, Howley said he observed a surge of promising companies being established in the Pacific region.

“I knew San Francisco-based companies weren’t going to fly to Boston to recruit, so having students go to the companies’ sites instead was a way for MBAs to meet companies they would otherwise not have,” Howley said. “It was working so well for them that I thought it could also help undergrads who are more undecided in their careers.”

In its first year of operation, Career Treks has filled five of its nine available summer sessions, which run in late spring and in early and late summer, enrolling between 30 and 50 students in each.

“There have already been more than 6,000 visitors to the Career Treks Web site, which is a very pleasant surprise for a company in its first year,” Howley said. “It tells us that many students are interested in learning more about careers in business.”

Some students said the program could help University students find their way in the working world or figure out their paths in life.

“It sounds like a great idea, but I also think it might be difficult to recruit sophomores and juniors who may not be that job-oriented right now,” Jessica Grotken, graduate business major, said. “I wasn’t that ‘gung-ho’ about finding jobs at that age, though my perspective changed as I got older and I now wish I had done something like that then.”

Fees for the program total $999, which includes classroom instruction, mentor guidance, transportation costs, lodging at Holiday Inn hotels and board.

Student candidates must be 18 or older, have completed four or more semesters as an undergraduate, have a strong academic record and have held a position within a campus or community organization.

“We love to see students in leadership positions of all types – from editor of the campus paper to varsity athlete to sorority or fraternity president,” Howley said.

He recommended that applicants be interested in pursuing a business career, but they do not have to be pursuing a business degree.

“This program is for students with an interest in business, which I define very broadly as any for-profit company,” Howley said. “If you want to be an engineer, Career Treks is probably not for you, but if you want an administrative role within an engineering company, it would be perfect.”

Although the businesses involved in the program are in the Mid-Atlantic region, Career Treks has received a high number of applications from students attending colleges and universities in New York.

“Whether they’re New York natives or originate from Mid-Atlantic states, students are realizing that the best job market is found in the Mid-Atlantic region,” Howley said.

He added that the federal government is a large client of businesses in that geographic area.

Companies involved in Career Treks include Capital One, Fed Ex, Enterprise Car Rental, Kaplan and The Washington Post.

“I hope the University is smart enough to advertise the program thoroughly, to a range of disciplines and to both commuters and residents so that you don’t have students miss out on a good opportunity,” Kathleen Hunker, senior political science and history major, said.