How to Secure an Internship – Tips & Resources

Why Internships Are Important 

Internships provide students with valuable work experience, help them build a professional network, and support the development of their career interests. 

Through internships, students can: 

  • Apply their strengths, coursework and group experiences into real world applications
  • Gain training and connections in a particular field, industry, and organization
  • Enhance their professional experience and identify mentors in their areas of expertise
  • Access a potential pipeline for future roles and full-time employment post-graduation

Your application for future internships, full-time opportunities, scholarships, and more will be stronger with internship experience on your resume. 

Getting Started: Exploration

Before you start your search, it is important to explore your options and determine the types of internships that interest you. Determining the industries, companies, or skills you’re looking to develop will help you narrow and tailor your internship search.

Resources: 

  • What Can I Do With This Major – This website will help you connect majors to careers.  Learn about typical career areas, types of employers that hire people with each major, and strategies to make you a more marketable candidate.
  • Your Next Step – This resource offers you access to career opportunities, prepares you for interviews, and assists you in executing a strategic job search.
  • Trojan Network – USC’s exclusive professional networking and mentorship platform. It is designed to help students and alumni connect with Trojans in wide-ranging roles and industries around the globe. 

Research and Planning 

Once you have an idea of the industry or companies you’d like to work for, look into the industry recruiting timelines. Not all industries recruit at the same time, so it’s important to understand when recruiting happens for your desired industry. 

Many industries, such as Consulting, Banking, and Engineering, begin recruiting for summer internship recruitment up to a year in advance, with most of their efforts happening during the Fall semester. Other industries start recruiting later in the academic year, focusing their efforts during the Spring semester. 

View the latest data we have covering different industry timelines: 

Tip: As you research employers, build a spreadsheet to track companies, upcoming deadlines, and required application materials. This will serve as your application tracker. 

Networking & Application Deadlines

After doing your research, it is important to seek out application information, deadlines and begin to network with professionals. Attending career fairs, info sessions, and networking events are all part of the process and help you connect with employers. 

Meeting with recruiters and company professionals can help you further explore what the company has to offer as well as exploring whether their programs are the right fit for you. By attending recruiting events, you are showing employers you take initiative. Attending recruiting events are also a great opportunity to build your network. 

Tip: It is important to note that many organizations do not recruit in-person, so it is recommended you follow all the employers you are interested in on Handshake and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with their deadlines. 

Resources: 

  • Handshake – Handshake is USC’s university-wide career services management platform and the largest career community and job board platform for college students.
  • Career Fairs – Happen every Fall and Spring semesters and are posted on Handshake. 
  • Trojan Talks & Campus Recruiting – Happen throughout the year. View upcoming Trojan Talks on our website. 
  • Industry Insights – Career panels meant to expose students to different industries and get insights directly from industry professionals
  • School-Based Career Centers – Be sure to check out the events and programs your school-based career center offers and make the most out of all the events available to you. 

Prepare for the Application Process 

Once you have a list of applications you want to complete, it is time to begin preparing to apply. During this process you’ll need to prepare your resume, cover letters, and other materials your industry may be looking for. 

The USC Career Center has various workshops, events, and online resources to help you during this process. 

Resources: 

  • VMock – An AI-driven resource offering students a suite of module-based tools to assist with resume creation and career planning. Current USC students get access once they enroll in classes and receive 10 uploads per school year.
  • Drop-Ins – Resume and cover letter reviews are available in-person in the Student Union (STU) 110, Monday-Friday, from 1:00-3:30 pm, on the University Park Campus. 
  • Advising Appointments – During scheduled 30-minute appointments, USC Career Center advisors can advise you on your job search strategies, help you prepare for upcoming interviews, and more.
  • YouTube – Can’t make it to our workshops? View recordings of previous workshops on our Youtube channel. Not all workshops are able to be recorded. 

Events: 

  • Industry Insiders – Industry Insiders are Career Center interns who have gone through the internship process themselves and share their experience with other USC students through workshops, networking events, and peer office hours.
  • Employer Resume Reviews – Offered virtually and in-person, these events bring employers from various industries to offer personalized resume reviews. This is a non-recruiting event.
  • Workshops – Advisors and employers regularly host workshops to help you during the recruitment process. View upcoming workshops on our website. 

Self-Care! 

The recruiting process can be quite time-consuming and can become overwhelming to manage alongside your classwork and other extracurricular activities. During this time, it is important to take care of yourself and ensure you are taking a break from the process. 

Not all applications will lead to interview offers, but the better you prepare yourself, the easier the process gets. 

Resources: 

The USC Career Center is here to help you throughout the process, no matter the industry you are looking to pursue. For questions or more information, email us at careers@usc.edu. 

Have career questions you want covered in future articles? Submit your suggestions here. 

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