As fall recruitment ramps up, I wanted to take some time to reflect on how I found my summer internship — and the USC resources that helped me get there!
This summer, I had the opportunity to work at Jacobs as a Construction Management Intern in their Irvine, CA office, where I worked on hospital construction projects. Looking back, getting this internship wasn’t the result of finding one perfect resource or opportunity. Instead, it came from taking advantage of many different opportunities to build my network, prepare for recruiting, and connect with employers!
How I Got There
One of the biggest resources that helped me was getting involved in professional organizations. I joined USC’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter during my first year and was able to connect with a current Jacobs employee through the SWE Mentorship Network, which is available to SWE National members. Through that connection, I learned more about Jacobs and eventually had the opportunity to interview with the company. Professional organizations can also connect you with opportunities beyond USC. After connecting with my mentor, I was able to interview with Jacobs in person at the SWE WE25 National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. My attendance at the conference was sponsored by USC’s SWE chapter!
Professional conferences like WE25 are such a great opportunity to meet professionals, grow your network, and potentially secure an internship or full-time offer. Many organizations at Viterbi, including SWE, NSBE, SHPE and ColorStack, provide opportunities for students to attend professional conferences at reduced or no cost. Overall, getting involved in a professional organization can help you build connections beyond USC, whether you’re actively looking for an internship or just starting to think about your future career.
How I Prepared
Before heading to WE25, though, I knew I needed to prepare for recruiting. I used templates and resources from the USC Career Center to improve my resume. I attended the USC Career Fair to practice my elevator pitch, talk to professionals, and even schedule some interviews. I also attended Career Center events, including company-specific events that gave me the chance to learn more about companies I was interested in and prepare for networking and recruiting events. These were also a great way to practice talking with professionals before heading into larger career fairs and conferences!
Another resource I took advantage of was Handshake. Keeping my profile updated allowed me to connect with recruiters, apply for internships, schedule interviews, and find additional events and opportunities available to USC students. Finally, I used LinkedIn and USC’s alumni network to find Trojans working at companies I was interested in. Reaching out to alumni gave me the chance to learn more about different companies and career paths from people who had once been in my shoes.
What I’d Do Again
One thing I’d definitely recommend is not waiting until you’re actively applying for internships to start using these resources. Building your resume, attending networking events, joining professional organizations, and connecting with alumni early on can make the recruiting process a lot less overwhelming when it is time to start applying. I definitely plan on continuing to take advantage of these resources heading into my next recruitment cycle and beyond!
My biggest takeaway from this experience is that finding an internship isn’t always about discovering one perfect opportunity. It’s about using the resources available to you, making connections along the way, and being prepared when the right opportunity comes. Thankfully, USC gives students so many opportunities to do just that!
