MBA Careers Q&A: USC Marshall

What role does the career services office at the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business play in the lives of its MBA students and graduates?

“Confidence in networking, working the room, telling your story and personal value proposition,” are just some of skills the school helps students to work on, according to Mark Brostoff, assistant dean and director of MBA career services at USC Marshall. In this interview, Brostoff also explains how the careers team impacts on the admissions process and how it continues to work with its MBAs after they graduate.

Does the career services team at USC Marshall work with the MBA admissions team during applicant assessment? 

Yes, on a case-by-case basis the career services office provides a review and feedback to admissions on prospective candidates’ ‘employability’ based on work experience, interests, etc.

When do on-campus corporate recruitment events and interviews typically take place at USC Marshall?

Fall recruiting begins on September 6 for company information sessions and September 27 for on-campus interviews.

Are there particular skills that career services helps students to accentuate during job fairs and recruiting?

Confidence in networking, working the room, telling your story and personal value proposition (are some of the skills we help students with). We also work extensively with students on perfecting the pitch and personal branding through our Career Action Plan.

How does the career services team help MBA students prepare for recruitment events? In what ways does the careers center help match students with companies that will be a good cultural fit for them?

Career education programming includes workshops on interviewing, case interviewing and networking. Personal one-on-one advising provides students insights into how to find the best cultural fit.

Are there any new companies recruiting on campus? Have you seen a change in industries?

Yes, we have seen an increase in the number of firms recruiting on campus as well as postings for positions across industries, including consulting, financial services and all functions in the entertainment and media industry.

Are there any changes to the way in which companies are recruiting?

Alumni referrals are becoming extremely important to firms wanting to identify talent.

What kind of contact does the careers center at USC Marshall have with MBAs after they graduate?

We provide graduates with access to career workshops, events and job postings. We also provide advising services to alumni.