Not even the rain could stop USC students from networking at Thursday’s spring 2025 career fair. Employers and students held umbrellas up and down Trousdale Parkway as they presented themselves, their companies and what they could offer to potential future employees.
The career fair, held twice a year by the university’s career center, plays an important role in helping students at all stages ease into the daunting prospect of employment. From Bank of America to Teach for America and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, organizations across industries connected with students dressed in their best business casual outfits with stacks of resumes.
“Today I’m looking to talk to anyone, just network really,” said sophomore Maxine Hoffman. “I want to meet as many people as I can, and give out my resume and see how that helps me in the future and for a potential summer internship.”
Hoffman said she found out about the career fair through an Explore USC email and decided to head to the event after looking at the list of companies that would be in attendance.
“[I] sought out a couple I’d really want to talk to, and came and found their booths,” Hoffman said. “I’m planning on going and talking to people at those specific businesses and just seeing what I can do from there.”
For older students nearing graduation, the career fair can be a crucial resource in securing post-college employment. Gurdeep Barring, a senior studying computer science and electrical engineering, has been to several fairs in his time at USC.
“It’s a good networking event, so it’s good for the long-term,” said Barring. “But, also, there aren’t that many companies here that are actually trying to offer jobs.”
Lack of current job openings was not the only challenge students faced at the career fair. Graduate law student Zijin Zeng, originally from mainland China, said he felt there could be more resources catered to international students seeking visa sponsorships.
“For international students, we don’t have many options that are open to [Optional Practical Training], [Curricular Practical Training], even H-1B [Speciality Occupations] sponsors,” Zeng said. “[The career fair] could be more friendly to international students, because we really need a CPT status.”
The OPT, CPT and H-1B visas all enable non-citizens to legally work in the U.S. — perhaps the biggest factor for an international student looking to secure employment.
“As an international student, we may only [be] here for one or two years,” Zeng said. “So we don’t have [a lot of] opportunity to find an external job opportunity here, and most of the jobs are open to local people…it could be even better if more sponsors supported [visas].”