By: Emily Young MA ‘16

Don’t know where to look for jobs online other than ConnectSC? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

I’ve written my fair share of cover letters and yet they can still be challenging. Why? Sure you stressed over making your resume look great to highlight your experiences, but when it comes to selling your self and creating a short narrative all you’ve got on your internal monologue is: “Ummmm, I really need this job—I’d actually be pretty great at it. I’ve already spent forever on this online application and I just really need to get this done.”

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

Employers are looking for employees that are self-driven and will continue to learn outside of the classroom. The best way to show that you’re a go-getter is to learn some new skills outside of the classroom. There are many websites and YouTube channels that offer free tutorials, but one of the best online tutorial websites, Lynda, is actually free for all USC students, faculty, and staff. Don’t let this free resource go untested try it out!

By: Emily Young MA ’16

The key recruiting time for most internship programs is February through April. Most employers have deadlines for summer internships that fall in late March and early April, but candidates who apply early always improve their chances.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

That’s a lot of info….let’s break it down. First impressions are critical in job interviews. Did you dress professional? Arrive early? Act courteous and polite to secretaries? Doing these three steps already gives you a leg up. Here are some more suggestions to seal the deal.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

As college students, the best tool to network is informational interviews. Informational interviews allow you to become well-informed about the industry you’re interested in and are a great way to develop some contacts in your field. Top-level and mid-level executives rarely take calls from strangers, but for college students eager to learn there is an exception. Being a USC student is a powerful brand to get your foot in the door, so use it to your advantage.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

There are many good reasons to make a budget, one might be that you realized you need to start saving for Spring Break after reading “Is It Spring Break Yet? Why It’s Not Too Soon to Start Planning.” Allow me to help you on your journey to becoming a financially responsible adult with my personal budgeting tips.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

Spirits are high! It’s the first week of school, we are reunited with all of our friends, and procrastination is a thing of the past. I mean it’s a new semester right? Anything is possible!

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

Staying in touch with previous bosses, colleagues, teachers, and mentors via a holiday card/email is a subtle yet highly effective form of networking. It helps to keep you top-of-mind just in case Santa Claus didn’t bring you a nice shiny internship/job for Christmas.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

Getting a job is tough. Especially when there are endless paths you can take with your degree. Instead of trying to determine a career path on your own, reach out to your network for help. Your contacts’ experience will help steer you in the right direction and their suggestions of who to talk to will ultimately lead you to a job. While there is nothing wrong with asking for help with your job search, how you ask for help makes a huge difference.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

Reality check, “the real working world” is approaching faster than you can imagine. While school has prepared you for a lot, it hasn’t prepared you for everything. Some of the most important lessons you learn in “the real working world” are from failures.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

While networking implies building a vast network of people, is does not mean you do it all in one night by handing out business cards to everyone at an event. Making one or two genuine and beneficial connections during an event is a success. Read more on how to avoid the 5 common pitfalls of networking.