Perfect Your Pitch
Are you traditional or original? Tough or tender? Scheduled or spontaneous? Critical or accepting?
These were some of the options sophomore Brian Lam, a biochemistry major, contemplated as he completed an online self-assessment questionnaire designed to suggest potential career matches based on personality and interests.
Lam was attending a workshop of the USC Dornsife Edge Program, offered through the Office of Advisement. The new series comprising 18 events is designed to promote academic, career and student development. Through the program, undergraduates learn about resources, identify opportunities and receive additional staff support.
During the workshop “Assess It: Self-assessment Exercises and Tools” led by Octavio Avila, director for student special services at USC Dornsife, participants discovered numerous tools and resources available to help them learn about their personality, interests, values and goals.
The program also offers workshops on writing resumes and cover letters; dressing successfully for interviews; nailing an elevator pitch; effective networking; honing interview skills; developing a personal brand; and learning how to obtain internships and opportunities to volunteer and conduct research.
Held on Sept. 3, the hour-long “Assess It” session introduced students to CareerBeam, a career development portal designed to provide the resources necessary to guide individuals through a strategic job-search process. During the workshop, Avila had students take a 10-minute online self-assessment questionnaire. The tool helped them assess personal interests, values and qualities that help hone in on internships, career industries and job possibilities based on their own preferences, leanings and personality traits.
Lam said he attended the workshop to try to gain a sense of direction and a clearer idea of future career possibilities. The online questionnaire reinforced the knowledge that he was on the right academic track while also identifying career possibilities he had not previously considered.
“I’m trying to discover what I really want to do with my major,” Lam said. “By taking the workshop, I learned I appreciate a leader and I want to help and serve others through knowledge and practical use. The results reinforced my choice of a science major and suggested careers in education and health services, particularly mental health or caring for children and the elderly. The program also suggested computer industries or engineering, which I hadn’t thought of before. Those are options I could look into now.
“I’m really happy I came to the workshop because I learned about a lot of online resources I didn’t know existed.”
Creator of USC Dornsife Edge workshops promoting academic and career development, Octavio Avila wants students to begin thinking about what they want to do with their degree early on.
Avila said he created the series of workshops to introduce students to career exploration and development.
“We find that often students don’t make the connection between their academic education and potential careers until their senior year, or may have a narrow view of what those careers might be. This program provides a platform for undergraduates to get started with career exploration by breaking down the larger picture into smaller elements to make it manageable.”
A goal of the “Assess It” workshop was to demystify self-assessment, Avila said.
“That can be as easy as asking yourself, what are you doing with your education? Why are you here at USC? It may be a little challenging for a freshman, but I’d rather they begin the process, or at least become familiar with the concept and application now, than wait until the clock is ticking toward graduation.”
USC Dornsife Edge workshops will be offered each semester. Here are the remaining events for the Fall semester:
Write It: Resumes and Cover Letters
A well-written resume and cover letter is your pathway to a career. Learn how to highlight your experience, achievements and interests.
Dress It: Interview Attire
Appropriate attire is part of the job, graduate/professional school or scholarship interview. Learn how to look your best.
Transfer Students, Gear-Up!
As a transfer student, it can feel like you are always in transition; learning a new system and trying to make new connections all within a few years. Learn to make the most of your time at USC, right from the start.
Pitch It: Your Story in 60-seconds
One of the most important skills you can learn is to talk about yourself. Learn what to say and how to say it in 60 seconds or less.
Decide It: Best Practices for Career Decisions
It is not enough to know about yourself. You must also know and learn about a prospective employer or industry. Learn how to use powerful research tools.
Research/Volunteering/Internships/Mentoring/Funding
Learn about the importance of volunteering and research experience and how to get involved. A panel of upperclassmen will be available to talk about their volunteer and research experiences.
Brand It: Your Virtual and Personal Brand
What does your brand say about you? Learn how to develop and maintain your personal and virtual brand.
Time Management
Time management is the quintessential tool for staying on top of your grades. Learn practical techniques to be more efficient.
Dornsife 1.0
Highly recommended for freshmen and transfer students to learn about the tools available to attain academic success.
Do It: Best Practices for Securing an Internship
Learn how to secure internships that provide valuable experience, skill-development and networking opportunities.
Connect It: Networking 101
Who you know is as important as what you know. Networking is key to potential career, job and internship opportunities. Make the most of your experience.
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Learn how to better manage stress and anxiety in this interactive workshop which is offered in collaboration with Student Counseling.
Share It: Interview Skills
An interview is one of the last steps in your career journey. Learn how to do your best before, during and after an interview.
Choose Your Major Workshop
This workshop is designed to guide you through the process of choosing a major, focusing on actively acquiring knowledge and using that knowledge in decision-making.
Dornsife 2.0 (Sophomore Slump)
The newness of freshman year has worn off and you find yourself with more questions than answers. Am I in the right major? How do I find an internship? Can I study abroad? All of these unknowns can be overwhelming, leading sophomores to fall into the “sophomore slump” — a time of uncertainty but also a time for growth. Find out about ways to beat the slump. Keep Calm and Fight On!
For a complete list and more information, including dates and locations, visit dornsife.usc.edu/dornsife-edge/.