Help for USC job applicants

Questions about applying for a USC job during the COVID-19 pandemic

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected USC recruiting?

While USC has temporarily paused most hiring activity, including hiring for positions vacant as of April 1, 2020, the University is actively recruiting for emergency positions, healthcare positions, grant-funded positions, fundraising positions, and regulatory-funded positions.

For the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community, USC made the decision to keep only essential on campus operations open. As a result, recruitment interviews and meetings are being conducted virtually, via Zoom video conference.

What types of roles is Keck Medicine of USC seeking to fill?

Keck Medicine of USC, comprised of Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, is currently recruiting qualified candidates to fill all roles involving patient care. Nurses (including night shift nurses), respiratory therapists, clinical support staff, patient care technicians, environmental service workers, and more are needed to support critical services. View Keck jobs here.

How can candidates prepare for a virtual interview?

  1. We encourage candidates to do the following before an interview:
  • Test your technology:
    • Ensure you are comfortable with the setup of your camera, monitor, etc.
    • Check your internet connectivity.
    • Confirm your camera and microphone are working.
    • On the day of your interview, test your equipment and internet connection again.
  • Minimize distractions:
    • Let those you live with know the date and time you are interviewing.
    • Use a room with optimal lighting.
    • Tidy up your surroundings
    • On the day of your interview, eliminate all other distractions such as turning off music or the TV, silencing phones, and closing nearby windows to muffle neighborhood sounds such as traffic and lawn mowing.
  • Come prepared: Do your research on USC, the role, and the interviewer ahead of time, and jot down notes for easy reference. Have your resume handy and come prepared with answers to common interview questions, as well as a list of questions you would like to ask.
  • Dress the part: Dress as you would for an in-person interview. It helps put you in the right mindset for the interview.

During the interview:

  • Quickly establish a relationship with your interviewer: Use the first few minutes of the call to establish that personal connection. Check out their LinkedIn page for background information or mutual connections that could provide a good base for conversation.
  • Be yourself and try to relax: Part of the recruitment process is ensuring candidates are a good fit for the role and the culture of the university.

Are employees working remotely during the pandemic?

Beginning on March 16, 2020, the university made the decision to keep only essential on-campus operations open, enabling as many employees as possible to work remotely.

USC has launched Project Restart, our campus-wide effort to return to on-campus living, learning, and working. Visit the Project Restart page for more information.

Are new employee orientations available at this time?

New employee orientations are being conducted online.

Are employee benefits affected by the pandemic?

Due to the financial crisis brought on by the effect of COVID-19 on university operations, USC has announced a temporary pause on the university’s contributions to employee retirement accounts for most employees, to take effect during calendar year 2021. This pause does not affect Keck Medicine of USC employees; the university is developing a separate plan to close financial gaps in the health system.

Where can I learn more about USC’s COVID-19 response measures?

You can view the latest updates here.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

The USC HR Service Center can help answer further questions. Contact them at uschr@usc.edu or (213) 821-8100. They are open M-F from 8am-6pm.

What is the policy for the flu vaccine for new hires?

You can review the flu vaccine policy here.


Questions about completing my application

How do I apply?

To be considered for any of our employment opportunities, please submit an online application at the USC Careers website, which is also where you may review all available positions. We do not consider emailed, faxed, or paper resumes/applications; please do not send duplicate information to our HR Service Center.

Do I need a resume? Should I provide a cover letter?

You may be able to complete an application without providing a resume or cover letter. Review the job posting before submitting your application; the job posting will indicate the required documents for that specific position.

Where do I upload a cover letter or additional document?

Our system will allow you to add additional documentation by clicking the “upload” button in the same section where you attach your resume. You may upload any other document you believe will help us consider you for the position to which you are applying.

I forgot to attach my documents. Can you reactivate my application?

Unfortunately, we are not able to reactivate an application once it has been submitted, but we can help attach necessary documents to your current application. Please email our HR Service Center at uschr@usc.edu and include the documents you would like us to attach to your application.

I started the application process but did not finish. Now I don’t see the position online. Can I complete my application?

You do not see the position online anymore because the department is no longer accepting applications. Because you were in the process of submitting an application, you may submit a brief description of your situation along with your resume so we may forward this information to the recruiter. Please email our HR Service Center at uschr@usc.edu with this information. Departments handles these types of situations on a case by case basis and your further consideration for the position is not guaranteed.


Questions about the status of my application

What is the status of my application?

You may check the status of your application by logging on to your application profile and checking the status. If it states “Under Review” this means you are still under consideration and the department will contact you should you be selected to move forward in the process.

I submitted my application weeks or months ago. When will I be called?

The recruiting process can take a long time due to volume of applicants and specific departmental interview processes. You may check the status of your application by logging on to your application profile and checking the status. If it states “Under Review” this means you are still under consideration and the department will contact you should you be selected to move forward in the process.


Questions about the application system

Can I change my email address in the application system?

You may change your email address through your applicant home menu. Click on the cloud icon displayed on the top right hand corner, choose “account settings”, enter the desired email and click submit. Please note you must validate the new email address before the change takes effect; a validation email will be sent to the new email address. If you need further help, please contact us at (213) 821-8100.

I forgot my username and/or password and cannot reset it myself.

Send your name and email address to our HR Service Center at uschr@usc.edu and we will resolve this issue.


Questions about specific jobs

What is the salary range for this position?

If the salary is not displayed in the job posting you may request the salary range once you have completed an initial interview.

Can I get a copy of the job description/posting?

You can print the job posting directly from our careers website. If it is no longer posted, we may be able to help; each request is handled on a case by case basis. Please email our HR Service Center at uschr@usc.edu.

Where can I find the contact information for the hiring manager/recruiter?

For a variety of reasons, including privacy protection, we do not provide hiring manager or recruiter contact information.


Additional frequent questions

Are background screens performed for all new employees?

Yes. Background screens are conducted following a conditional offer of employment and as a condition of employment, with individuals subject to additional screening in accordance with departmental requirements for all staff, staff providing clinical services, faculty, clinical faculty at the Keck School of Medicine, clinical faculty at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, faculty, staff and volunteers assigned to work in a program designed specifically for minors, and all postdoctoral scholar-research associates, postdoctoral scholar-teaching fellows, postdoctoral scholar-visiting fellows and postdoctoral scholar-fellowship trainees. See USC’s background screening policy.

Do you have internships/volunteer opportunities?

We do offer both internship and volunteer opportunities. If you are a USC student please visit ConnectSC for employment/internship opportunities and USC Volunteer Center for volunteer opportunities. For non-USC students, please contact the specific department in which you are interested, as not all departments participate in internship or volunteer opportunities. For a list of USC departments see the USC Department Directory.

What if I need an accommodation to apply for a position?

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact our HR Service Center at (213) 821-8100 or uschr@usc.edu.


Other questions?

  • If we did not answer your question, please contact our HR Service Center at uschr@usc.edu or (213) 821-8100.
  • If you are a faculty applicant, please contact the position manager listed in the job posting, or contact the school directly.
  • If you are an internal USC applicant (if you are already a USC employee), see our Your USC Career section on the Employee Gateway’s “Learn & grow” page for more information.