By: Joy Ofodu ‘18

If you’re new to writing effective cover letters, know that you’re not alone! Like a perfect cake, it can be tough to discern what should go inside. If you’ve been wondering about the recipe, wonder no longer! Here’s the structure I’ve used to land 11 professional roles over the last 5 years:

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Hi, all! I hope these first three weeks have been going well for you all and I wish you the best throughout the next several weeks! I wanted to write this post about a great experience I had this past weekend with El Centro Chicano. This past Sunday, on January 21st, 2018, I went to El Centro Chicano’s Latinx Student Empowerment Conference. This conference aimed to support the research, academic success, and social justice activism of USC students. Conferences such as these, and the overall organization, are open to current USC students - both undergraduate and graduate - and welcome new spring admits! They welcome & encourage USC Alumni to attend these conferences! And if I’m being completely honest…It was the best thing I have ever attended. The conference started off with a special guest speaker, Cristela Alonzo, comedian, actress, writer, and overall amazing human being.

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

For the third consecutive year, the Academic Honors & Fellowships office hosted their annual USC Research and Fellowships Week. The office is committed to educating the USC community about university awards and nationally competitive fellowships. That’s why during this week-long session, students were able to learn about different research and scholarship opportunities available to them at USC and nation-wide. Although some programs are aimed at upperclassmen and graduate students, there are multiple scholarships available to underclassmen as well! Here are the top 5 that every student should apply for!

By: Joy Ofodu ‘18

In honor of National STEM Day, I thought I’d shine a Trojans 360 flashlight on some of the most dynamic USC student-made apps and tech companies!

By: Joy Ofodu ‘18

If you thought that internship postings wouldn’t spring up until Spring, you’re in for a surprise: companies across the U.S. have already launched their search for Summer interns! As Trojans, we pride ourselves on having access to an unbelievable network (occasionally nicknamed the Trojan Mafia) of professionals & resources. Whether you’re a Trojan looking for a head start, or a prospective student doing your due diligence in research, here are a few of the best and least-known sources for internships!

By: Jonathon Xue ‘19

It's not easy.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

Lauren Jones will be the first to tell you she doesn’t have it all figured out. Founder and face of LoJo Media started her career right here at USC as a journalism student. LoJo Media is a Los Angeles based media company providing sports fans with a behind-the-scenes perspective on their favorite athletes and trending sports stories. Her biggest client is the Nike sponsored ‘Drew League. “ known for attracting LA streetball legends, collegiate athletes, and several NBA stars. Her company’s goal is to shed light on the positive impact athletes have had historically and continue to have on our society. Jones, only 24 has had many successes in her post-graduate life; including landing her dream job at ESPN and starting her own company. In my interview with her, she offered some advice for college students, specifically those with an entrepreneurial mindset.

By: Joy Ofodu ‘18

The Career Fair can be a dark event for many: apprehension over resume bullet points, elevator pitches and career conversations reigns high as Trojans fall in line with their peers to pursue their futures. The light to shine through all of this darkness? The amazing outfits donned by the young professionals of ‘SC!

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

1. Follow up with the recruiters you talked to.

During the career fair, hundreds of students line up to talk to recruiters and hand over their resumes. During the 5 minutes of interaction that you have with the recruiter, it’s most likely that he or she will not remember your face and resume. It’s nothing against you but due to the sheer number of applicants, it’s hard for them to remember everyone. That is why it is just as important to follow up with an email that includes: one interesting thing you talked about with the recruiter and a thank you note to them for taking the time to come to the career fair. You want to send the email on the day of the career fair or the next day at the latest. When you do this, you set yourself apart from the other applicants who don’t send an email at all. And trust me, after being on the employer side of recruiting, this act really will make a difference.

By: Ayman Siraj ‘18

Whether you are looking for an internship, full-time job or a freshman just starting out, the websites below are sure to be useful to you.

By: Terry Nguyen ‘ 20

The spring semester may feel like a drag, but remember – life stops for no one, even if you have three midterms all in the same week (hopefully, not the same day). Career fairs, fellowships and summer internship applications are barely starting to roll out, and with that comes the need for a clear resumé booster to rival against the hyper-competitive students in your college.