What does an investment firm actually do all day? Is accounting still a smart career in the age of AI? Can a physics major end up in finance?
For most rising college first-years, questions like these stay abstract. Few have a relative in a corporate office or a mentor who can walk them through a trading floor. Thrive Scholars’ Day on the Job events change that. In a single morning or afternoon, Scholars step inside a leading company, meet the people who work there, and leave with a much sharper picture of what their futures could hold.
What is a Day on the Job?
A Day on the Job (DOJ) is a half-day career exploration visit, about three to four hours, hosted by one of our corporate partners. Groups of rising college first-years, anywhere from 12 to 50 Scholars, spend the day at companies such as Google, Citadel, BMO, and PwC.
Each visit is shaped by the host, but most include:
- A welcome from company leaders
- A tour of the office
- Time to network with employees
- A career panel or hands-on activity
- Breakfast or lunch, provided by the partner
Before the visit, each partner completes a corporate profile so Scholars arrive already knowing the company’s mission, culture, and work. Volunteers receive a guide to Thrive Scholars and tips for engaging with our students, so everyone walks in ready for a real conversation.
Why we do it
You can’t aim for a career you’ve never seen. For many of our Scholars, the professional world can feel like a building without a front door. Day on the Job opens that door before their first semester even begins. After participating, one Scolar commented:
[I am] motivated to pursue courses in mathematics, physics, and computer science in order to secure flexibility in financial career.”
The visits give Scholars real exposure to the range of roles inside a major company, not just the job titles they already know. They practice networking with professionals in a welcoming setting. And they hear first-hand that careers are rarely a straight line.
The benefits run both ways. Partners build brand awareness with a talented, motivated group of future professionals and help shape the next generation of talent in their industry.
What Scholars learn
Across all eleven 2026 host sites, Scholars rated the experience highest for helping them understand the jobs available to them. Their reflections show just how much a single visit can shift their thinking. Check out what our Scholars had to say!
Surprising new interests
Some Scholars walked out with a career path they hadn’t considered that morning. At PwC, several were surprised to learn that accounting is still a core hiring pipeline, despite assumptions that AI is replacing those roles.
At PwC many of the employees emphasized the importance of an accounting degree. This really surprised me since I believed AI is taking over accounting jobs. But, in contrast, that is actually where they hire from.”
At Citadel Miami, finance and economics sparked the strongest response, from investment banking to fixed income and trading.
A clearer picture of the path
Scholars didn’t just discover interests; they refined them. Some narrowed their focus, and others mapped out the classes that would get them there.
I’ve continued my interest in finance, but ruled out asset management and moved more towards fixed income and trading.”career, especially when it comes to accounting.”
Your major doesn’t lock you in
Hearing from professionals with unexpected backgrounds was one of the most reassuring takeaways. Scholars learned there are many ways into a great company.
I think it showed me that even if I choose to pursue a physics degree during my undergrad, I could still pursue a career at a finance company like Citadel.”
Knowing what you value
Even when an industry wasn’t the right fit, Scholars gained something. At Citadel NYC, they admired how teams managed complex operations and left motivated to build skills that travel anywhere. Others gained clarity on what they want from a workplace.
I wouldn’t say that I’m interested in the careers I saw today but I loved seeing how the operations within the company worked.”
Room to grow
Scholars were honest about the skills they want to strengthen, and they framed those gaps as goals, not discouragement.
I am more motivated to develop soft skills such as leadership, communication, and advocacy after listening to the panelists.“
One day, lasting impact
A Day on the Job takes just a few hours, but what Scholars carry home lasts much longer: a new interest, a sharper plan, a reminder that their path can bend, and a clear sense of the skills they want to build next. Our next goal is helping Scholars turn that exposure into lasting professional connections.
Interested in hosting a Day on the Job? We welcome new corporate partners who want to open their doors to the next generation of talent. Reach out to our Corporate Partnerships team to learn more.
Thank you to Laura Murphy, Enterprise Account Manager on the Thrive Scholars Corporate Partnerships team, for the information and Scholar feedback shared in this post.