Spotlight on: the Careers Centre
The University of St Andrews Careers Centre supports students at every stage of their journey, helping them explore career pathways, gain experience and connect with professional opportunities around the world. From one-to-one guidance and workshops to global networking initiatives, the Careers Centre equips students with the tools and confidence to navigate today’s competitive employment market.
Over the winter break, the Careers Centre proudly hosted its second US Winter Break Careers Trek, a flagship programme designed specifically for US students in their second and third years of university. The initiative gives students the opportunity to engage with leading global organisations across the US, enhancing their employability, uncovering potential internships and career opportunities, and building professional networks.
Originally launched in 2025 as a pilot in a single city, the programme has grown rapidly. In 2026, it expanded to cover New York, Washington DC, San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, reflecting strong demand from students and participating businesses alike. Each trek focuses on key sectors including finance, consulting, technology, government, law, arts and film, connecting students with organisations such as Citi, Google, HSBC, Sotheby’s, the US Department of State and EY.
By leveraging students’ time while back home during the winter break, the treks offer an immersive, behind-the-scenes experience from curated site visits to professional panels and networking sessions. Participating companies can benefit from gaining early access to talented students and showcasing real-world career pathways. The programme has already delivered tangible outcomes for students, with participants securing internships, paid and voluntary roles, and building relationships with professional mentors.
Of our 31 hosts this year, 18 were alumni or parents who generously opened doors, shared their networks and offered invaluable insights to students. Engagement from our global St Andrews community transforms the treks from a series of visits into a dynamic platform for career inspiration and professional growth.
Many of the connections continue beyond the treks through initiatives such as Coffee Connect, our award-winning student mentoring programme, which pairs students with alumni and parents for one-to-one guidance, career advice and professional support.
How you can get involved:
- Host a trek for a cohort of St Andrews students from the US to your organisation during winter break, 4–15 January 2027.
- Introduce us to a colleague in recruitment or HR within your organisation who can support a trek experience or an additional opportunity.
- Visiting St Andrews? Host a coffee chat or informal session to share your career journey and inspire students.
- Register for Coffee Connect and become a mentor for a student motivated to learn from your insight.
From students’ first day at St Andrews, and for up to three years after graduation, the Careers Centre offers support in accessing experiences, advice and insights that help shape fulfilling and successful global careers.
For further information, please contact Jonathan Jack, North American Opportunities Manager, at [email protected]or visit the Careers Centre website.
This article first appeared in LINK – the newsletter for members of our Family Programme.