How I’m Preparing for the USC Career Fair

photo credit: USC Career Center

by Emily Quintanilla ‘24

USC’s Career Center hosts several career fairs throughout the academic year for undergraduate students, graduate students, and even alumni. In February, the Career Center will host a “general career fair” which will feature nearly 100 employers hiring for internship, part-time, and full-time positions. The benefits of attending any of the Career Center’s fairs are vast; I’m most excited to meet face-to-face with recruiters, network with industry professionals, and learn about opportunities and companies I might not have discovered otherwise.

Back in the day, I used to work at the Career Center. So I’m well versed in the behind-the-scenes of the fairs. Since this will be my first career fair attending exclusively as a student, I want to make the most of my experience. Here is what I’m doing to prepare for the career fair.  

Updating My Resume

As I wrote in a previous post, “A resume is the employer’s first impression of a student, so tailor your resume to how you want to be seen.” While I would usually tailor my resume to a specific job description, I am creating a resume that is applicable to multiple positions in my specific industry. The Career Center offers several resources to update your resume, the most popular being VMock and in-person drop-in advising (hosted in STU110, Monday-Friday from 1-3:30). 

I’m also printing out paper copies to leave with recruiters. Although not all recruiters accept paper copies (some opt for fully digital applications), it’s great to have extras just in case!

Creating an Action Plan

When speaking to advisors at the Career Center, the most common career fair tip I received was to research employers beforehand. I am taking this one step further and creating an action plan before my visit. 

To create an action plan, research employers on connectSC (under the “Events” tab on connectSC, there is a full list of employers attending the fair, what industry they are in, and what positions they are hiring for) and note the ones that catch your attention. Using this information, compile a list of organizations to talk to and, more importantly, what questions to ask them. (Knowing about the company and showing off your interest is one way to stand out!) Finally, it’s worth considering where employers will be. According to the Career Center’s website, “The employer tables will be organized alphabetically along Trousdale Parkway, with “A”s starting at West 34th Street (near the JEP House) and ending with “Z”s at Exposition Boulevard (near Bridge Hall).”

Planning to Arrive Early

When creating my action plan, I’m also considering that some companies might be more popular than others. And, speaking from experience, lines at the career fair can get pretty long. I’m planning on getting to the fair at 10 a.m. SHARP to speak with employers at the top of my list. 

While my action plan is a useful guide, nothing is set in stone. If lines do get too long, I plan on keeping an open mind and speaking to other recruiters who spark my interest. 

Drafting an Elevator Pitch

Another recommendation from the Career Center: Prepare an elevator pitch. Elevator pitches are short introductions into who you are, your background, and your goals. As someone who is more introverted, I like the idea of having a few talking points already prepared to get a conversation going. As part of my preparation for the career fair, I am creating a brief 30-second intro about myself. For some inspiration, I’m looking at the Career Center’s website for additional resources. 

Dressing to Impress

My favorite part of the career fair is seeing how students dress to impress. I plan on wearing professional attire – probably slacks and a nice top – to leave a good first impression on potential employers. My goal is to look put together and, of course, prepared. 

If you’re looking to update your professional wardrobe, check out the JCPenney Suit-Up Event. Multiple campus teams have collaborated to offer current students, alumni, faculty, and staff an additional 30% off on select apparel at JCPenney from February 20 - March 5. Current students are also eligible to enter a funding lottery for a $150 gift card. Students must apply before February 14. 

Refreshing the Events Calendar

Beyond their career fairs, the Career Center hosts events year-round to help students get connected with employers. If I miss an employer at the career fair, I will definitely check the Career Center’s events calendar to see if recruiters will be back on campus for a Trojan Talk or a Coffee Chat. 

Also, the Career Center offers workshops to help prepare students for events like this and more. In the upcoming week, the Career Center is hosting workshops like “How to Sell Yourself” and “Networking for Introverts.” I’ll definitely be attending at least one of these events in the next few days to feel more prepared to speak to recruiters. 

The general spring career fair is February 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can register now on connectSC.

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