Trekking to success
There is no better way of either figuring out if finance is for you or pursuing a career in finance than through this Career Trek.”
Josh Cheng
Weinberg sophomore
25 students joined NCA’s investment banking career trek, visiting six companies over two days in New York
Weinberg sophomore Josh Cheng knew networking would be an essential part of finding an internship in finance.
Northwestern Career Advancement’s (NCA) career trek to New York proved to be a great chance to sharpen his skills, explore companies and immerse himself in potential career paths.
“Being able to visit the offices of many top banks was a life-changing experience,” Cheng said. “It was also fun to visit the city and see what the heart of the global financial system is like.”
Career Treks allow students to explore a handful of companies in their industry of choice in a specific city and network with alumni. NCA offers three treks annually: a government, law and policy trek to Washington, D.C. over spring break; an August trek to Los Angeles for film and television, and last December’s trek to New York for investment banking.
The trek, offered to sophomores this year, was strategically placed before applications open for summer internships.
“The goal of this particular trek was to give students the opportunity to learn from the employers they could potentially be working with,” said Alyssa Thompson, assistant director of employer strategy. “They not only learn about the role, but also about what the office looks like, what the company culture is like and what New York is like.”
Thompson planned and facilitated the investment banking trek alongside Jessica Cantin, assistant director of student career advising. Every trek is supported by NCA staffers who travel with students and provide insights to help them cultivate their careers.
Students spent two full days in New York visiting Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Moelis & Company, and Greenhill & Co. At each company, they learned about its work, their open positions and application processes, followed by a Q&A session or open networking time.
“Getting that immersive experience for their career exploration and education, going beyond the actual connections and networking, many students told me they felt they gained confidence in their professional abilities,” Cantin said.
Applications to attend a trek are typically comprised of a resume submission and a short essay on why students want to attend and what they hope to take away from the experience.
With the New York trek receiving 70 applications for 25 spots, Cantin and Thompson emphasized the importance of creating a strong resume – even without relevant investment banking experience – and demonstrating strong voice and personality through the essays. GPA and experience are also taken into account, though there are no explicit requirements.
“It's finding a balance between who may be great candidates for the employers to meet and what opportunities can we offer students who may be a little less experienced,” Thompson said.
Student Enrichment Services provides financial assistance to students with demonstrated need, ensuring they can access NCA opportunities. This can include coverage of airfare, lodging or both. Students also receive a subway card to cover their transportation while in the city.
While in New York, Cheng said he also looked for opportunities to network with other professionals in his field and by connecting over coffee with Northwestern alumni who work in investment banking.
“There is no better way of either figuring out if finance is for you or pursuing a career in finance than through this Career Trek,” Cheng said.