Written by Employer Engagement Intern, Ahona Karim
Last month, the USC Career Center hosted a Career Journeys and Advice for International Students Panel as part of its Industry Insights series, a student-led initiative designed to help students explore career paths by hearing directly from industry professionals.
For this panel, we welcomed four distinguished panelists: Farhan Sikder, Simon Lei, Kathy Chen, and Xinyu “Ciao” Zhao.
Panelists:
- Farhan Sikder, Global Customer Success Strategy and Business Advisor @ BRAC IT
- Simon Lei, Strategic Marketing Manager @ Residents Medical Group
- Kathy Chen, Software Engineer @ WHPM
- Xinyu “Ciao” Zhao, Creative Producer @ Rideback
- Dinesh Naag Nalla, Director @ Synergene Active Ingredients
Key Takeaways:
Leverage Your Unique Background
Ciao Xinyu Zhao, now a producer for films like the live-action Lilo & Stitch, explained that the entertainment industry has no set recruiting timeline and is notoriously difficult to break into, especially for non-US citizens.
Instead of competing on the same terms as everyone else, she leaned into what made her different. She targeted companies with international co-productions and highlighted her bicultural, bilingual perspective. Her boss later told her he hired her because she was “additive”. She brought a global viewpoint the company didn’t already have.
Use the Trojan Network
Every panelist agreed on this piece of advice: your network is one of your most powerful tools.
● Farhan Sikder, a Global Strategy and Business Advisor, landed his first internship opportunity by attending a gaming conference at the USC film school, even though he was a business student at Marshall. Don’t be afraid to explore events outside your immediate department.
● Simon Lei, a Marketing Manager, shared a brilliant tip: many companies post jobs in school-specific LinkedIn alumni groups (e.g., “USC Annenberg Alumni”) because it’s free, unlike official LinkedIn job postings.
● Ciao stressed the importance of mentorship programs for learning the “unwritten rules” of the American workplace, like when to speak up in a meeting or how to interact with supervisors. This cultural knowledge is just as important as your technical skills.
Practical Resources & Hacks
Beyond mindset, the panelists shared actionable tips and tools to give you an edge.
Crafting Your Profile & Resume
● Kathy uses ChatGPT to tailor her resume by feeding it her base resume and a specific job description.
● Farhan cautioned that while AI is great for a first draft, you should always edit it to ensure your authentic voice comes through. Hiring managers look for personality.
● Farhan recommended creating a simple one-pager website to showcase your projects and background. It’s a simple way to stand out and pack more information into a single link.
Finding Opportunities
● Recruiters post on various platforms. Farhan advised fully completing your profiles on Indeed and Handshake, not just LinkedIn.
● Ciao shared a clever hack, she temporarily added a film major to get access to the exclusive SCA job newsletters, a primary source for entertainment jobs that never get posted publicly. Find the key newsletters and job boards for your industry and get on those lists. Students may also explore the option of double majoring or minoring in a different school.
● Farhan, who was targeting product management roles, used sites like APM List and ReferMe (for getting referrals) to find specialized roles.
During Your Internship
● Kathy made a point to always think beyond the assigned task. By asking smart questions and providing thoughtful options, she left a lasting impression. Even though there wasn’t a return offer available due to headcount, her manager was so impressed that she offered to personally help with her resume and provide referrals.
For more career tips and resources, visit the USC Career Center website. For legal advice and guidance related to your international student status, please consult the Office of International Services (OIS).
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