Harris Public Policy’s dual-city Career Trek to Washington, DC, and New York City

Hello to all my current Harristas, and to prospective students! I am very excited to share my experience of Harris Career Trek, a student’s ticket to career exploration in other cities.

What is the Harris dual-city Career Trek?

The Harris School of Public Policy’s Career Development Office (CDO) offers a unique professional development opportunity during spring break every year. They have expanded the trek to include more employers and accommodate more students for a dual-city trek in Washington, DC, and New York City. This a great opportunity to grow your professional networks and explore career opportunities through a robust schedule of employer visits, alumni receptions, and coffee chats. Here’s an example of this past year’s trek:

The employer visits consist of meeting with multiple companies within a particular policy focus to explore your interests and network with Harris alumni and non-Harris employees. The coffee chats provided opportunities to talk with alumni about their industry insights and develop personal connections. CDO partnered with Harris’s Alumni Relations Office to identify alumni to connect with during the trek. We received a list for both cities and were encouraged to begin communicating with alumni nearly a month before the trip. We also had access to two alumni receptions this year; a speed networking event in DC with Harris alumni and employers, and an open networking event in NYC with employers and the entire UChicago alumni network. 

In the weeks leading up to the Career Trek, we had two mandatory workshops with CDO preparing us for the trip. The first session was a detailed overview of the employers and schedule for the visit and an explanation of deadlines so we knew what was expected of us. The second session prepared us to network: how to dress, how to reach out, what to say, and how best to follow-up after making a new connection. I found them very helpful, especially the cute flyer with tips on what type of handbags to bring!  

When should I join the trek, in the first year or the second year?

The Career Trek is designed to be both an internship pipeline and a platform for full-time employment opportunities. Also, this was an excellent networking opportunity, especially with alumni who can connect me with opportunities in DC, NYC, and beyond. I would say consider this trip as a practical way to learn and connect with amazing organizations you may not have direct access to otherwise. 

I joined the Career Trek as a second year, but if I had a chance to go back, I would have joined during my first year instead. During my first year, I didn’t know much about the different industries, and a trip like this would have been a great way to explore diverse career opportunities. 

The benefit of participating during my second year is that I have a deeper understanding of what kind of employers interest me the most. During the Trek, I was very serious about putting my best foot forward and presenting myself professionally. About to enter the job market myself, I could see that most second-year students planned their trip and coffee chats carefully, all with making the most out of these new connections firmly in mind.

Exposure to a variety of companies like this can help you make the right career choices and set you up for success in landing an internship that is the right fit for you. Whether you are a first year or a second year, do yourself a favor and join a career trek to make the most out of the networks Harris can place at your fingertips.

Is there funding available to help cover travel expenses?

Harris sponsored several lunches and the receptions in DC and NYC this year, but in order to include as many students as possible, participants are expected to fund their personal expenses. There are a few financial resources available to help offset the cost of the trip including the Harris Professional Development Fund and the Graduate Council Travel Fund. 

Don’t be afraid to take the bus or share a room with friends to help cut costs down. Due to a snowstorm the week of the trip, I ended up taking a Mega bus instead of the Amtrak; it was 1/10 the cost of the train and I had fun chatting with friends as we watched the clouds go by. 

What was my favorite employer visit? 

My favorite visit was to Ideas42, a non-profit design and consulting firm that uses insights from the behavioral sciences to address complex social problems. The office is nestled in the mid-town area of NYC and set up as a gallery to famous artists (Daniella Zalcman, among others) and highlights many identity pieces. Our visit was during business hours, but many of the employees still made time to chat and take photos with those of us on the Trek. We met with members of the creative, brand management and talent acquisition teams, all fantastic contacts to make as we prepare to enter the behavioral sciences field.

If you want to be a policy person, you absolutely should attend Harris Public Policy and join CDO’s Career Trek. The dual-city trek, like the recruiting process, will educate and empower you. I believe both experiences have given me new tools to help get interviews at top companies where I hope to make a real impact.