I hope everyone had a nice summer break! Just like the first day of classes is getting closer, so is the Trojan Welcome Experience! In the week before classes officially start, there’s new events every day to introduce you to the school, allow you to meet fellow Trojans, and celebrate the start of a new semester.

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: Ani Antonyan ‘24

Transitioning from college life to the real world is exhilarating yet terrifying. It's hard not to think about your future— especially as graduation approaches. As the semesters fly by, I catch myself pondering whether I'm prepared for what’s ahead. Luckily, the USC Career Center is here to help USC students navigate our future and goals. Come with me on my adventure to sort out my career and show you the resources you can take advantage of.

By: Ngai Yeung ‘23

For international students who are graduating in May 2023, now’s the time to start applying for OPT if you want to stay and work in the United States after graduation. Even though I’m aware of OPT, I’d put off learning about how to actually apply for it until now because it seemed so complicated. Here’s a (hopefully) more straightforward step-by-step guide that incorporates the USC Office of International Service’s (OIS) video and website as well as outside sources.

By: Ngai Yeung ‘23

Everyone loves to talk about how important networking is, but no one ever gives you a clear answer about how to do it. As a big time introvert, this is extra frustrating because chatting doesn’t come naturally to me. So when I saw that the USC Career Center was hosting a “Networking for Introverts” workshop (bless their heart), of course, I had to check it out. Here’s what I learned at the event, along with my own experiences as a reporter moonlighting as an extrovert:

By: Lauren Liang ‘23

Before I was hired for my first internship, I was willing to accept any offer that came my way. During interviews, I curated my experiences to whatever I thought the recruiter wanted to hear. While this is permissible as long as you’re still truthful, doing so is a surefire way to end up at a company that might not be a great fit for you.

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

Interested in finding a job on campus? Trojans work a variety of jobs that range in time commitment, responsibilities, and environments. Keep reading for an in-depth look at just some of the different ways students can earn cash!

By: Antonia Le ‘22

I am a senior this year, and if my finals go well, I will officially graduate from USC this December. Sometimes, it’s fun to think about life beyond academia, but mostly, I’m just stressed out. Unlike many of my peers in the class of 2022, I haven’t secured a full-time role for after graduation. I’ve done countless interviews and written so many cover letters, but nobody has thrown me a bone yet. As I write this, I am thinking about how I have to do four interviews next week, and I would be lying if I said that I was particularly excited.

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: Antonia Le ‘22

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything has gone virtual, even the good old internship. With nowhere else to go and nothing to do, I spent most of my Fall semester doing virtual work in conjunction on top of my academic studies. So, here are some quick tips for balancing a full-time course load with a part-time internship:

By: Antonia Le ‘22

For starters, if you’re looking for a simple “Yes” or “No” question, I’m suggesting that you ask literally anybody else. As with every question related to the workforce, answering this question is complicated, and I know that the answer is different for every field.