Trojan Network: Graduate Recruiting

While we do not restrict when employers may extend job offers, employers are encouraged to communicate decisions to candidates within a reasonable period of time and we suggest the following student-decision deadlines to allow the student to participate in on-campus recruiting and to make an informed decision that is in the best interest of both the student and the employer.

• Fall Full-time or Internship Offers: It is common for students to receive a full-time offer at the end of a summer internship or early September. For full-time or internship offers made in the fall, we suggest giving the student until December 1st or a minimum of three to four weeks after an offer is made to make their decision to accept or decline an offer.

• Spring Full-time or Internship Offers: For companies interviewing in the spring semester, we recommend giving the student until March 1st or a minimum of three to four weeks after an offer is made during the spring term.

It is essential that USC Marshall School of Business receive offer and relevant employment data of newly hired students in a timely manner. Employers are asked to report all hiring data to each global sector lead or by email to mba.crc@marshall.usc.edu

International students enrolled at USC generally hold an F-1 visa or J-1 visa. No paperwork is required for an employer who hires F-1 or J-1 students, except for the offer letter itself. All paperwork is handled by the students, the school, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Also, there are no fees associated with hiring a student for Curricular, Academic, or Optional Practical Training.

MBA and Master's Programs Awarded STEM Designation

USC Marshall's full-time MBA and Master's programs (MS in Business Analytics, MS in Marketing, MS in Global Supply Chain Management and MS in Finance) have been officially designated STEM programs by the US Department of Homeland Security, reflecting the integration of technology and data analytics into the business school curriculum.

FAQs

Is it illegal to hire international students because they do not have a green card?

No. Federal regulations permit the employment of international students on F-1 and J-1 visas within certain limits. These visas allow students to work in jobs related to their concentrations during their studies or after graduation during a period Optional Practical Training (OPT).

What does it mean to hire STEM international students?

F-1 students who graduated with a USC Marshall business graduate degree with a STEM designation (FTMBA, MSF, MSBA, MSGSCM) may be eligible for an additional 24-month extension of their F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization, resulting in up to 36 months of total work eligibility in the United States. These graduates can work for 3 years before they will require employer sponsorship. There is no cost to the employer during the OPT period.

Do international students need work authorization before I can hire them?

International students must have work authorization before they begin actual employment, but not before they are offered employment. Many F-1 students will be in the process of obtaining work authorization while they are interviewing for employment. Students can give employers a reasonable estimate of when they expect to receive work authorization.

Even if it’s legal to hire international students, won’t it cost a lot of money and involve a lot of paperwork?

No. The only cost to the employer hiring international students is the time and effort to interview and select the best candidate for the job. The international student office handles the paperwork involved in securing the work authorization for F-1 and J-1 students. In fact, a company may save money by hiring international students because many of them are exempt from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare tax requirements.