<p>How is the Trojan Alumni Network for:
a. the entire university?
b. graduates of the Rossier School of Education
(Masters Programs)?
c. finding employment with:
1. LA Unified School District?
2. other districts in LA/Ventura/Orange counties?
3. Northern California?</p>
<p>My wife did her undergrad at USC and also received her masters from USC in education. Her first job interview was in a school district in Orange County and her interviewer was a USC alumni who was highly placed in the district. She got the job so I guess that is a pretty good example of how the Trojan Alumni Network can work to your advantage.</p>
<p>Fight On!</p>
<p>I think too much attention is given to the alumni network. The interviewer for your first job is just as likely to be a UC*A grad, in LA, or Cal, etc. somewhere else. So you better hope that alumni networks are not really that influential. </p>
<p>It would be unprofessional if an HR person let a school connection lead to hiring a less-qualified person. It could be maybe a tip in an absolutely evenly balanced situation.</p>
<p>dt123, an alumni network like USC will open doors not guarantee you a job. Graduating from USC with a BA and a Masters I think defacto makes you a highly qualified candidate to begin with. </p>
<p>The point is that often times you will find USC alumni in postions of influence and in those cases assuming you are highly qualified, you will have an advantage over other highly qualified candidates who are not USC alumni.</p>
<p>Fight On!</p>
<p>Ldt123: The people who interview first-round candidates on OCR (On-Campus Recruiting) are predominately done by USC alumni. The alumni connection gets your foot in the door. Second round interviews are a mixed bag. If you are lucky enough to get only USC alums to interview you, then you are pretty much set unless you completely screw it up or lack the pre-requisites.</p>
<p>It’s easier to interview with an USC alum because you have many things in common (such as USC tradition). I received a job offer by just talking about football and my experience abroad. </p>
<p>Of course, I was an experienced interviewer at that point. In addition, I didn’t act like a jerkoff by being overly confident.</p>
<p>Never underestimate the power of a strong alumni network. I know for certain that once I get into a position to be able to make hiring decisions, with all things equal, hiring USC students will be my first choice.</p>
<p>USC alumni will definitely get you in the door, what you do with that connection is up to you. dt123, this happens all the time. When my husband did recruiting for his firm he went to his alma mater which is a top state school in NY but still a state school that, if someone else was recruiting would not be included, as it pales by reputation compared to MIT or RPI, but not necessarily on a candidate by candidate situation. They still recruit from there although he has not recruited in years.</p>
<p>OK, OK. Being a Trojan will open doors everywhere unlike being an alum from anywhere else.</p>
<p>It’s more of a loyalty thing than anything else. I think SC alums are generally more attached to the university as a whole.Better college experience maybe? The endowment numbers seem to back my theory.</p>
<p>No doubt. My point is that that does not translate into a job when someone is more qualified than you. Or looks like they might be a nicer person than you. I’ve hired a few people in my time, and it never gets down to a perfectly even match up where school loyalty would be the tie-breaker.</p>