What I've Learned From Recruiting Season (and What I Wish I Knew)

By: Lauren Liang ‘23

Recruiting season is in full swing, and there’s no better time to revamp your resumes and draft your cover letters. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way:

Go to the Career Center

USC’s Career Center is one of the first places to look for anything career related. There are daily drop-in periods where you can receive feedback on your resume and cover letter. If you attend, I recommend being as specific as possible with the questions you have – the more general the question, the more general (and likely less helpful) the answer will be. The Career Center also hosts employers that conduct on-campus interviews and coffee chats which are a great way to meet recruiters in person and get a better feel for potential employers. 

Mock Interview 

If you’re like me and get nervous interviewing, practicing mock interviews can be one of the best ways to alleviate your nerves and build confidence. USC’s Career Center hosts mock interview nights with alumni every semester, and they are a great way to speedrun mock interviews and get feedback on your interviewing skills. I’ve found that it also helps to think of all interviews (even real ones) as mock interviews. That way, no matter how they go, they can be considered a learning experience. 

Interviews Are a Two-Way Street 

Before I was hired for my first internship, I was willing to accept any offer that came my way. During interviews, I curated my experiences to whatever I thought the recruiter wanted to hear. While this is permissible as long as you’re still truthful, doing so is a surefire way to end up at a company that might not be a great fit for you.

Also, be mindful of the questions you’re being asked—they likely say something about the company. For example, if you’re being asked lots of questions about workplace conflict, that could be a sign that there is a lot of upheaval at that company. When you get a chance to ask questions at the interview, avoid asking generic questions like “what is your favorite thing about working here?” and ask more targeted questions. For example, if you want to work at a company that provides opportunities for growth, ask for specific examples of situations where employees were supported to grow within the company. 

Network

The Trojan Network is real, but you’ll have to put in the work to utilize it! Given how busy people are, it’s extremely unlikely that someone will reach out to you out of the blue to offer advice. If you’re not already on LinkedIn, make an account and get connected. When you connect with people, make sure to leave a note explaining why you want to connect. For example, if you’re reaching out to a fellow Trojan because they’re working at a company you’d like to work at or have a job that you’d like to have, you could say something along the lines of:

Hi [name], my name is [your name] and I’m a [year/major/etc] at USC. I saw that you [what they do that you’re interested in] and I would greatly appreciate [x minutes] of your time to learn more. 

If you do end up doing informational interviews, always be sure to send a thank you message afterwards. 

Do Research 

Doing research on the industry/companies you are interested in working for is a great way to keep track of when they begin recruiting and what they are looking for in potential employees. When it comes time to interview, it will also help you keep in mind how your experiences align with the company’s values. 

Prepare (But Don’t Over Prepare) 

Doing research and being prepared is great, but it’s equally important not to over prepare (confusing, I know). The Career Center will probably tell you to prepare a 60 second elevator pitch for yourself. When I first did this, I memorized my pitch word for word, and it probably came off as much more robotic than I wanted it to be. At the end of the day, companies want to hire you for you, so don’t be afraid to show personality in your responses and go a little off-script. Just smiling and looking excited to be there goes a long way! 

Good luck this recruiting season! 

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