How I Found My Campus Job and Why I Love It
By Kaylee E.
I am a proud member of the summer 2025 Orientation Leader cohort! My first ever job was as an OL at USC, and it was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in my time here.
As one of the most visible jobs on campus, students are likely already aware of the role, but may not know when to apply or that it’s a paid position. I found out about them when I went to my own orientation as a freshman, and was sold ever since.
Applications open around January of every year, including a written application and two rounds of interviews. When selected, OLs go to a few trainings in the spring and hold a few orientations in the following fall semester, but spend the biggest bulk of their time on campus during the summer.
When I walked into spring training on my first day, I was seated between Ethan Lipper and Simeon Waller, names I thought I would just forget by the end of the job. Little did I know, both of these two would end up becoming some of my closest friends.
After spring trainings full of exercises, information and personality quizzes, the orientation team, under the direction of Lisa Starr and Andres Elvira, paired us up into duos or trios based on these personality quizzes and training observations. I was lucky enough to get paired with Simeon, the best sOLmate anyone could ask for.
Under the name of Team Conquest (the best team), Simeon and I spent long orientation days together with incoming freshmen and transfer students. To this day, I love it when our kids come up to us and tell us that we were their OLs!
Being an OL is one of the few jobs on campus that doesn’t require work study funds (but will still take it!), making it accessible for almost every applicant. They provided free USC housing, a basic meal plan and a very lenient summer schedule. Our cohort bonded through the many side trips we took throughout the summer, using the metro to get to places like Santa Monica and Long Beach.
As someone super social and with no shortage of school spirit, this job was perfect for me. I got to meet so many amazing and excited incoming students and form relationships that I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten the chance to do. I even have classes with many of my kids and I love seeing them grow to love USC as much as I do.
Being in the Trojan Marching Band as an orientation leader was also something super special to me. Every orientation day would include a performance from the TMB, where I, along with three other OLs, would grab our instruments and perform with the band while still in orientation uniform.
Performing next to my fellow trombone and OL, Caleb Park, we were both so excited for this part every orientation, especially to meet potential future trombones! Running up to our students during “Tusk” or talking to them after our performance was always such a great boost in my day, and was something super special for both of us.
Photo credit: Henry Kofman
I’m so grateful that I was able to be an OL and have this job over the summer, especially with such a supportive sOLmate, amazing pro-staff and cohort of lifelong friends. Highly recommend the position to anyone looking to stay on campus over the summer and work a super chill job!
