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Congratulations, you’ve made it through another school year!  You may have final exams and essays due next week, but most of your work is done.  Enjoy your summer—work hard and play hard—and be sure to check in with the Career Center when you return in the fall!  We’re working on some new ideas over the summer, and we can’t wait to share them with you.  We hope you enjoy the next few months!

As another semester draws closer to the end, there will be students that are still undecided in their majors and getting more anxious about where to start their career paths. From what you want vs. what makes money to simply not knowing where your passions lie, here’s a quick exercise to help you get started.
 
Make a list with two columns: Skills and Interests. Take as much time as you need to completely empty out every single skill you have, from the most tech savvy to the seemingly inane, such as making friends easily. For the Interests column, include everything from your personal and professional life, and don’t forget what interested you in previous classes and jobs. Sometimes thinking of what didn’t interest you at all and writing down the opposite may help as well. Also, this may be a good one to seek a second opinion on, such as where friends and family see you gravitate to every time you enter a bookstore or mall.
 
Once you’ve got that list completed, set aside some time to analyze and cross-examine your two lists with the following question: what would you like to do on a daily basis utilizing both your skills and interests that would add significant value to people? Start writing down answers quickly and create your new list of possibilities.
 
Check out the Career Access Resource Library on our website for more resources and our counselors are ready to help you Mondays through Fridays. Please visit our page for more information.

As Spring On-Campus Recruiting comes to a close, ask yourself, did you accomplish what you set out to do this recruiting season?  We had a number of programming options to help your career development this semester, and now is the time to assess what worked for you and what didn’t. 
 
Spring OCR is comprised of mostly internships with a few full-time positions.  If you already have an offer in hand, congratulations!  Remember that an internship is like a three-month interview, and if you’re proactive and diligent, you may just get a full-time offer at the end of the summer, which means you’ll have the Fall OCR season to be stress-free!  If you’re still looking, call our office at 213-740-9105 to make an appointment with an internship advisor.  Remember, we’re here to help you!

This week, fall class registration opens for returning students. Even with pressing issues like studying for finals and securing a summer internship (if you haven’t already), you should set aside time to figure out your fall schedule in a logical and considerate way. Remember, fall means football, so take game time into account when thinking about your potential workload! As a reminder, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Figure out what you want. For example, if you want to intern, try to have 1-2 days with no class so you can commit those full days to your internship. If you’re the type of person who needs some extra time in the morning to finish homework, go to the gym, or just plain wake up, keep those early hours clear out of respect for your professors, your employer(s), and yourself.

2. Do your research. Did you have too little free time this semester? Too much? Learn from this semester and take a close look at your course load. Was it the 18 units that put too much pressure on you, or was it that one class with the professor who assigned landslides of work? Before blocking off time for a class, research the professor, look for a past syllabus or reading list, and see if you know anyone who’s had that class or instructor. A little extra work now can save you a lot of strain later.

3. Have a back-up plan. Depending on how many units you’ve earned, you may not be able to register early enough to attain your ideal schedule. Plan now so you won’t be scrambling to figure it out during your precious registration time. The same goes for internships; apply for approximately 10 positions, because in all likelihood, competition for your top choice will be high, and it’s always good to have alternate options.

 
Lately, Alex Knapp at Forbes has been writing fun yet insightful articles regarding the organizational flaws in the Star Wars Empire and the leadership lessons to be learned from two of Star Trek’s most famous captains.  In this spirit, we decided to take a look at Indiana Jones for some similar wisdom. 
 
Regardless of the circumstances, Indy gets the job done.  Whether you’re running away from a giant boulder, racing to find the Ark of the Covenant, or just trying to get through the semester, this Indy-inspired tips will help you get the job done.
 
5.  Read carefully.  Indy gets a head start on his arch nemesis in Raiders of the Lost Ark when he realizes that the enemy is only using half the instructions.  Likewise, you shouldn’t read the first half of an email or skim the instructions for an assignment.  It’s just a little more effort for a lot more efficiency.
 
4.  Accept help.  Indiana Jones may say he prefers to work alone, but he knows when a task calls for assistance.  Whether it’s his friend Sallah, his colleague Marcus, or even his dad, Indy accepts help when he needs it, just as you should seek help from your peers, professors, and family.
 
3.  Keep the mood light.  Indy is known for his witty quips and signature smirk.  Though he knows when to get serious, he also shows that a little levity can make any job easier, even if you’re being chased by evil archaeologists.
 
2.  Take a moment to think things through.  In The Last Crusade, Indiana Jones encounters a physically and intellectually demanding maze.  Every time he acts without thinking first, he faces a life-threatening situation, including near-decapitation.  While circumstances may not be quite as severe in your student life and career search, thorough consideration will always be important.  Without it, Indy would have lost his head—literally.
 
1.  Adapt.  What Indiana Jones movie is complete without a lengthy car chase?  These sequences last so long because Indy must keep adapting until he’s able to outsmart and escape his foes.  If he stayed in one place the entire time, he probably wouldn’t survive the scene.  Instead, he adjusts as the situation evolves, just as you should adjust your reactions as classes shift focus, interviews get rescheduled, and other new opportunities arise.

Welcome back from Spring Break! If you’re a graduating senior and this is your last break, reality sets in that graduation is almost here and your future job may or may not be in place. We all want that dream job at that dream company, but in the event that option #1 didn’t happen, what next?
 
A full-time job in the industry or functional area that you would ideally like to work in is a great fallback plan. It is easier to switch to another company that requires the same skill-set and industry knowledge than trying to transition into another industry entirely after a few years.
 
If that doesn’t happen right away, how about a summer internship in that ideal industry? You can still be an intern after college and this would be a great addition to your resume to bring you closer to that full-time job.
 
The toughest test comes after college with finding a job and the Career Center wants to arm you with the best skills possible to help you reach your goals. Check out our events calendar for the next few weeks for events on securing internships, using social media for your job search, and other career development workshops.

Whether you’re on vacation, studying, working, or just plain relaxing during this time away from campus, we hope you’re having a terrific time!
 
It may be slightly early, but have you considered what you’ll be doing for your next break? The USC Volunteer Center has a great program called The Alternative Break program, which cultivates a unique opportunity for students, staff and faculty to engage in service learning and volunteerism in communities outside of the Los Angeles area.  These ABs (Alternative Breaks) are in locations within the U.S. and internationally; some past cities include Appalachia, WV, Navajo Nation, Orcas Island, Thailand, Isla Mujeres, Guatemala, and more! ABs not only explore pressing issues of our generation in depth, but also create long-lasting relationships within our own community. Click here for more information.

The Princeton Review has listed USC, once again, as the top video game design program in the county for both undergraduate and graduate students. And this is during a period of time where the number of colleges offering this degree has nearly doubled in the last year!
 
What does this mean for you?  It means a steadily growing industry and a great network of alums for you to tap into. Employment in the video game industry grew at an annual rate of 8.6% and the starting salaries have also reported a significant increase. USC graduates have gone on to Activision, Electronic Arts, and had a part in such blockbusters as Call of Duty and Rock Band.
 
Make sure you stay up-to-date on all the companies recruiting at USC and how to get in the game. Check out the Internship Week podcast on Gaming and Mobile Technology for first-hand advice and tips from the recruiters themselves.