Student Perspectives: Finding a Job or Internship as a Transfer Student

Student Perspectives: Finding a Job or Internship as a Transfer Student 

Hello! My name is Katja Stambrandt and I am a junior transfer student in Environmental Studies! One question I have gotten from many students is how to land a job, especially as a transfer student. Sometimes students are concerned that starting at USC as a sophomore or junior might set them back in terms of employment opportunities, as opposed to students who began their education at USC as freshmen. However, I don’t think this is the case at all! If anything, this grants you the opportunity to reference any experience you might have accumulated from various institutions when applying! 

Below are a few different sources for students looking to find employment and internships: 

USC Career Center 

The Handshake platform offers information published by the USC Career Center about student jobs, career opportunities, employer events, and both paid and unpaid internships. They have a variety of openings for different skill and experience levels. They frequently email new postings, so be sure to check your email. You can sign up to join the mailing list through the online portal and filter job listings based on your interests and experience.  

If you are on campus, there are regularly scheduled career fairs hosted by the Career Center which are a great way to learn more about different companies and career pathways. These events bring various employers to campus who are interested in meeting bright and passionate students! Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and ask questions. You might find your future career! 

Faculty 

Many faculty at USC have worked in or are currently working in the fields that they teach and can be invaluable resources for finding jobs and internships. I have had multiple professors send out announcements about research opportunities, internships, grants and jobs. If you have a professor whose subject matter deeply interests you, don’t hesitate to ask them if they know of any opportunities. They might be able to offer guidance and possibly even recommend you! 

Additionally, many majors offer internship classes, for which students can receive course credit for completing a semester-long internship. This last semester, for example, I was paired with the Garden School Foundation through one of my major classes, which allowed me to serve as a teacher’s aide for sustainability-related material at an elementary school near my home! I interned for about eight hours per week. During this time, I was able to immerse myself in a possible career option while checking in regularly with my professor for the class and updating her on my progress throughout the internship. These internship courses are a great opportunity to work in a field that interests you, gain experience that you can list on a resume, and possibly even make connections that can help you land your dream career! 

In-Person 

Finally, the old tried-and-true method of dropping off resumes deserves to be mentioned, as you never know when you might get lucky! Many businesses near campus (or even on-campus departments) will appreciate that you took the time to meet with them in person and deliver a resume. If you are looking for a weekend or an after-school job, many restaurants or retailers hire based off the resumes they receive in person. These more “entry-level ” jobs might not seem like much initially, but can eventually lead to managerial or executive positions.  For example, I started working on the weekends as a host at a restaurant in Los Angeles. I had never worked as a host before, but I absolutely loved it. After a few months, I spoke with one of my superiors about a promotion. They relocated me to another location and made me a lead, which allowed me to help train and manage the larger host team that they had at that location. While I am still in school, this has been a great weekend position and I can now say that I have lead experience when applying to future positions! 

Overall, you should feel confident about putting yourself out there if you want to jump into the workforce! Whether you already have a few things on your resume or are just starting out, attitude is everything. Employers will often take a chance on someone with relatively less experience but a great attitude and work ethic than someone with more experience.. Also, if you meet someone with your ideal job--especially a fellow Trojan—don't be afraid to ask them how they got to where they are or how they got into that field. You might even take advantage of the Trojan Network, an online platform where students can reach out to alumni in various industries, or take advantage of programs through Alumni Experts for Students. You might learn a thing or two! 

Written by: Katja Stambrandt, Class of 2025