Electives are arguably the best part of the college academic experience, but choosing which ones to take can be incredibly stressful. For the longest time, I felt like every single elective I took had to directly relate to my career or building technical skills, even if I wasn’t at all interested in the elective. After all, USC’s tuition is sky-high –– why “waste” a credit on “useless” classes like The Art of Jaywalking (disclaimer: to the best of my knowledge, this is not a course at USC, and there is an art to jaywalking and not getting run over).

A new semester means new ways to get involved with one (or many) of USC’s numerous student organizations. A walk down Trousdale during the semesterly Involvement Fair highlights how there is no shortage of opportunities. While there are many social clubs––clubs that don’t require an application to be accepted––there are an equal number of pre-professional and application based clubs.

By: Ngai Yeung ‘23

I’m graduating in a month and I have no idea how to process the fact. What should us graduating seniors know about the next stage of life and how has our college experience prepared us for that? I talked to a handful of recent USC and Trojan360 grads to find out.

By: Ela Rybak ‘25

Whether you’re a pre-med student hoping to become a doctor or a business major set on investment banking, the job market can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are three tips to make navigating recruiting as painless as possible:

By: Amy Argueta ‘25 (USC Student Life Guest Blogger)

Anya Ball is the next rising DJ you need to check out. After feeling uninspired and unmotivated during her first semester in college, Ball turned to DJing as a new creative outlet. Just eight months after buying her first mixer, she already has 25 venues nation-wide under her belt, and a whole lot of future to look forward to.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

USC Career Launchpad is your answer to your internship or post-grad job anxieties. For the last couple months, we’ve all been stressing over landing an internship for the summer or landing the perfect post-grad job offer. Figuring out the future is always daunting, and it can be a challenge to curate the perfect resume, make the right connections with people in your field, and have the skillset to stand out.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

I’ve had a couple of interviews these past two weeks or so, and I’ve definitely noticed a pattern: the questions. While every interview was a bit different, the majority of the questions were just variations of ones I had answered previously. So below, I’ve not only compiled a list of those questions and ones similar, but I’ve given you some tips on how to answer them. Keep reading if you want to figure out how to ace your next interview!

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

Internships are commonly viewed as precursors to real-world jobs and great thing to have on your resume exiting college. It lets recruiters know that you have the know-how to apply the knowledge you’ve gained from your classes. Since they’re outside of the usual school curriculum, it can be intimidating and confusing on how exactly to get one, but don’t worry! It’s never too late to land one and you can do it in all sorts of ways! USC has a couple of resources available for students looking to take a step into the professional world and it doesn’t end there either. Keep reading to find out!

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

The USC Career Fair, taking place February 11, 2021 from 9 AM – 2 PM, is an opportunity for students to get a head start on that thing everyone worries about after graduation: jobs. From full-time, to part-time, to paid internships — there’s a little bit for everyone there. Even if you’re not looking for a job, the Career Fair could also be a great opportunity to get some networking or interview practice in!

The fair happens two times a year, once a semester, and usually in person, but obviously that can’t exactly happen this year. So, how does the event being online change things? How does the platform work and how should you prepare? There are a lot of questions to answer, but thankfully, I’ve got the answers!

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

If you have ever been interviewed, or have even just talked to a career representative at a career fair, you’ve probably heard this question at the end of the conversation: “Do you have any questions for me?” Too often many of us are so grateful to have just gotten to the end of an interview, we brush past that final question, not even realizing the power it holds. I didn’t even realize until recently just how much of a tool this question can be. The right questions can turn an okay interview great, and make a great interview even better! But what exactly should you ask? What if you think you don’t have any questions? What if you just can’t think of anything? Don’t worry! Here are twenty-two easy questions that’ll be sure to aid your next interview or career fair, regardless of the type of job or how sure you are that you have “covered everything” already.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

The first time I saw Joy Ofodu was the spring before I had even started my year at USC. It was during an organized student breakfast on Admitted Student Day and I, staying true to my oh-so-social nature, settled quietly in the back of the ballroom with my cold eggs and pastries. I didn’t know what kind of presentation to expect at a breakfast; no clue whether I’d actually pay attention or just keep moving around the cold eggs on my plate, but at some point during the program, Joy Ofodu approached the podium. She gave a speech, and for someone who had already been to about a billion other repetitive prospective student gatherings smushed into the month of April before Decision Day, it was refreshingly entertaining. Honestly, even the 10-second clip of it on her Instagram is worth checking out. But what I truly saw then — and what I’d like to share now — was someone who is passionate, driven, and genuinely inspiring in pursuit of their goals.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

For people who are socially anxious, even day-to-day conversations can be a bit taxing, so professional interviews are far from easy. Whether you struggle maintaining eye contact, controlling your fidgeting hands, or stumbling over your words, there are ways to improve your chances of scoring that dream job. From one socially awkward over-thinker to another, here’s how to ace your interview: