Whether you’re exploring career options, searching for internships, or fine-tuning your resume, the USC Career Center is here to help you every step of the way. We offer several types of advising that cater to your specific needs, and our team is ready to guide you on your career journey.
Our office offers three kinds of advising options:
1. Drop-In Advising (~15 minutes):
This type of advising is available for students looking to get a resume or cover letter critique. You can bring either a printed or digital copy to our office and get one-on-one feedback. Drop-ins are also a great option for students with basic career questions (where do I get started?) or for students who are looking for a general overview of our services and resources.
How to Schedule: Drop-in advising is available in-person in the Student Union (STU) 110, Monday-Friday, from 1:00-3:30 pm (right across from Seeds). You don’t need to schedule ahead, just drop-in.
Open to: Students of all class levels and majors.
💡 Tip: If you do not have a resume or cover letter prepared, write one using one of these templates: Cover Letter, Resume, and CV guide. Coming with a draft prepared helps you get the most out of your session.
2. Schedule Appointments (30 minutes):
If you have more specific career questions or want to dive deeper into your internship or job search, scheduled advising appointments are a great choice. Whether you need advice on crafting your job search strategy, preparing for interviews, or reviewing an offer, our advisors are ready to provide more personalized support. Students are also able to schedule mock interviews through this option, a great opportunity to get practice and feedback before an interview. Appointments can be done virtually via Zoom, over the phone or in-person at our STU 110 office.
How to schedule: Log in to your Handshake account → Go to Career Center, then click on “Appointments” → Click “Schedule a New Appointment” and choose “USC Career Center – Current Students“
Open to: Students of all class levels* and majors
*Please note: Graduate Students are limited to one advising appointment with our Career Center before being referred to your college for more industry-specific advising.
💡Tip: Still unsure what to ask during an advising appointment? Here are 5 common questions you can ask during an advising appointment:
- I’ve done a lot of research on career options, but still can’t decide what I want to do. Can you help me with that?
- I’m feeling overwhelmed about how to make a career decision. Where should I start?
- Do you have tips for salary negotiation?
- Where do I get started with networking?
- When should I start preparing for recruiting?
3. Peer to Peer Advising (30 minutes):
As part of our industry-based programming, this type of advising connects you with an undergraduate student that has already gone through the recruiting process and can share their experience and industry insights with you. They can also help you strategize and prepare for industry specific recruiting. We have interns who can advise you on the following industries: Government, Legal, and Policy, Communications, Entertainment, and Media, Accounting, Consulting, and Finance, and Education, Non-Profit, and Social Justice. This is a great choice for undergraduates students who are looking for an internship.
How to Schedule: Log into your Handshake account → Under “Appointments,” select “USC Career Center – Current Students” and then “USC Career Center: Peer Advising with Industry Insider Interns”.
Connect with your school-based career centers
Make sure you are also taking advantage of advising options are you school-based career center! Your school-based career center will be able to offer you industry-specific career resources.
Want to learn more about the USC Career Center’s other resources and services? Explore our website: careers.usc.edu
