It’s almost summer, which means it’s the season for job hunting! When applying for jobs, it’s easy to forget what may or may not be appropriate – can you message people for jobs on LinkedIn? Can you email old contacts? We know how stressful the process is, which is why we are here to help!
USC Career Center
As a Trojan, you have access to a wonderful resource – the USC Career Center. Use this resource to help you plan every step of your career path; from writing and reviewing your cover letter and resume, to preparing for career events, interviewing and networking, as well as connecting with alumni, staff and faculty. The Career Center also provides a database for internships and full-time positions, available exclusively to USC students. Are you an international student? The Career Center has you covered with resources tailored exclusively for you!
Career fairs
Living in L.A. has a number of advantages, with one of them being the career fairs held across the city – including several on USC’s campus. Career fairs are a great way to meet recruiters and market yourself, while at the same time building professional connections. Check out these tips to maximize your time at any career fair and land that dream job!
Your biggest non-USC asset, LinkedIn is your portal to show potential employers why you are a cut above the rest. Remember, first impressions matter – so spruce up that LinkedIn profile with the best professional side of you! Not quite sure how to do that? Watch this informative webinar to get started.
Informational interviews
Before the Internet existed, people still applied for jobs. Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? Go old-school to accelerate your job search, and reach out to would-be peers to schedule informational interviews. Use this interview as an opportunity to gather in-depth insights into your career field and build connections with the interviewee. Be sure to follow up after the interview, and stay in touch! Your interviewee just might turn out to be your greatest career resource.
Written by: Deeksha Lal, OIS Communications Editor, Master of Communication Management, USC Annenberg 2020