First-of-its-kind career event intended to help students “thrive and succeed”
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| Dean Andrew Guzman welcomes guests and students to “Meet the Firm Night.” |
The event, held on June 29 at Town & Gown, boasted more than 130 guests (including 86 alumni) who represented 43 law firms. Approximately 150 students took advantage of the networking evening, the first-of-its-kind organized by Gould’s Career Services Office.
The students needed no further encouragement, as they buzzed through the room strategically making conversation with firm personnel, many of whom are USC Gould alumni.
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| Gould students networking with potential employers. |
For Mina Rizk ’18, who described himself as “torn between transactional law and litigation,” the evening provided him with a better sense of which firms he’d like to meet with at On Campus Interviews (OCI), which begin in August.
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| Law firm representative offering students advice. |
And, in turn, Armour added, each firm had the opportunity to assess the students and “gauge their interpersonal skills; how they present themselves in ‘live action’ situations,” she said.
- Do your research. “Don’t assume all of a firm’s offices are the same. For instance, a firm’s Los Angeles and New York offices may be distinct from each other,” Tabaie advised.
- Read Gould’s Career Services e-newsletter to find the firms hosting receptions, and make an effort to attend. “Attending receptions provides you with an opportunity to figure out which firms are a good fit for you, said Wampler. “Ask questions and you’ll gain insights before OCI.”
- Prepare for your interview. Prince told the audience that they should “be able to communicate to the particular firm your interests and how you add value. This includes being able to speak intelligently about items on your resume.”
- Take advantage of the Trojan network for insights into a firm. “Reach out to alumni who work there or have worked there,” said Tabaie.
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