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Internship and Job Search

Businesspeople handshaking after negotiation or interview at office

Though it may be second nature for you to turn towards the internet to search for a job or internship, we recommend spending only 10% of your time online. This means that you must use that 10% wisely.

Click here for a list of examples of recent internships of MPA students.

TARGETING EMPLOYERS THROUGH NETWORKING

EXTERNAL JOB BOARDS
Don’t rely on external job boards; instead, create a target list of your dream companies and apply directly from their websites.

If you are interested in working for a governmental entity, please check out these sites:

If you are interested in the nonprofit space:

Requirements for the Internship

Internship Requirements for MUP and MPA Students Step-by-Step Guide

MPA students must work a minimum of 300 hours; MUP students must work a minimum of 400 hours.  Students must keep track of the hours worked and must have the hours log approved by the supervisor.

Internship supervisor and student must determine mutually agreeable goals and objectives for the internship using the Internship Contract as a guide. The Contract should outline what the student hopes to learn, the assigned tasks related to these objectives, and the end product of the internship.

Students whose programs require an internship (MPA, MUP and BS) must successfully complete the internship, as indicated on the Internship Contract, and be evaluated by the supervisor. The supervisor must evaluate the intern at the completion of the internship and submit the evaluation to the Career Services Office.

We encourage the student to request that the supervisor write a letter of recommendation for the student’s personal use.

Please complete the appropriate forms via the below links:

Hours Log

Internship Contract

Supervisor Evaluation

Networking

If only 10% of your search is online, then you’re probably wondering how to spend the rest of it. Since the majority of jobs are not on the internet, it’s imperative that you network in order to find them. In fact, 90% of your time searching for jobs and internships should be in the pursuit of forming mutually beneficial relationships to get the role of your dreams. And, why not? The Trojan Network is known to be one of the strongest in the world. To get started, read our how-to guide:

What is Your Objective?
Be clear about what you hope to gain from each interaction, whether it be connecting on LinkedIn for the first time, or meeting with the CEO of your dream firm. The more advanced research you do and the more curious you are, the easier it will be for you to clarify your career goals.

Make a Contact List
Family, friends, former employers, professors, TAs, classmates, coaches, mentors, internship and volunteer supervisors, your mom’s best friend: They all count!

Make a Target Company List
Jot down the 8-10 companies you would die to work for. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t hiring now; you just want to start the process early enough so that when they are hiring, they know who you are.

Create a Networking-Management System
Before you begin connecting, set yourself up for success by creating a system to stay organized. Whether you like Excel, Word, or something else, keep track of your contacts, your upcoming meetings, when you followed up, and if the company is hiring.

Start Sending Emails and LinkedIn Connection Requests
Remember that you are not asking for an internship or job! Rather, you are asking for an opportunity to get their guidance, suggestions and knowledge about their industry. What’s ‘the formula? State who you are + how you found them + what you’re doing now + why they should care + ask graciously for their time = in-person meeting.

Keep Finding New Contacts
Uh oh. Have you reached a plateau? Then check out targeted USC groups on LinkedIn, members of professional associations in your field of interest, and individuals you meet at on-campus events, conferences and meet-ups.

Maintain Relationships
Send periodic, short-and-sweet updates, a snail mail holiday card, or articles that they may find interesting with a personal note attached. Are you doing research that they may find valuable? Let them know! These quick exchanges demonstrate that you are in it to build the relationship-not use it and abuse it.

Tips

Avoid Fraudulent Job Postings

While you are working hard to make sure you land that perfect job, be aware that the perfect job may not be so perfect. Con artists and scammers post fraudulent jobs that can be difficult to spot at first. Click here to learn some tips on what should raise a red flag and how to protect yourself if you think you may have applied for a fraudulent job.

The Trojan Network

The Trojan Network is USC’s online professional networking and mentor platform where alumni share their career and industry-related experiences and information with current students and fellow alumni. You can gain valuable advice from alumni during brief chat sessions, informational interviews, mentorships, and real-world projects

Sign up for The Trojan Network, our free online professional networking and mentorship platform. 

As a student, the Trojan Network allows you to:

Offer Evaluation & Negotiation

Congratulations! You received an offer and you should be proud of yourself. After so much hard work, you may feel tempted to say “YES!” right away, but what you should really do is take a deep breath and keep reading.

The Offer Itself
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with considerations, so we created this worksheet (link salary negotiation worksheet) to help you make a careful decision based on what is most important to you in your job fulfillment.

To Accept or To Reject
While you should never accept a job or internship on the spot, oftentimes, employers ask that you give them an answer right away. However, employers who recruit through USC must give students two weeks to accept/reject a written offer. If you received an offer from an employer who is currently pressuring you to respond asap, talk to us to get the guidance you need before you decide.

Potential Scenarios

What it Means When You Accept an Offer
Never accept one offer and then go back on your word if a more attractive one materializes. To do this is unethical, and reflects poorly on you and the Price School. In order to keep doors open and to avoid burning bridges, be honest with any employer with whom you have outstanding interviews. For example, if you are accepting an internship position: “I am planning on accepting an offer, but I would love to stay in touch regarding full time opportunities.”

Negotiating Salary
“Show me the money!” Unlike that scene in Jerry Maguire, salary is more than just a number. So, when you are considering an offer, think about location, industry, your specific experience and skills, company perks, benefits and more. If you choose to negotiate your salary, always do it respectfully over the phone or in person. Refer to our educational guide for more detailed information on offer negotiation.

Tips

Resources