On-Campus Interviewing

The Career and Professional Readiness Center is pleased to coordinate on-campus interview opportunities through partnerships with employers and current SBU students. 

The Basics
Guidelines/Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Policies/Your Responsibilities
Applying
Interviewing
Making the Most of On-Campus Recruiting
Glossary of Terms 

Calendar 

On-Campus Interviewing - The Basics 

On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) is the service that enables organizations to come to campus to interview students for permanent employment and internship experiences.  

There are two time frames for On-Campus Recruitment.  The fall semester will commence in September and run to mid November. The spring semester will commence in January and run to mid March. The On-Campus Recruitment Calendar will be publicized at the beginning of each semester for participating students to review and is available online at Recruiting Calendar. Check it daily as we are contstantly updating opportunities! 

All students must be registered with the CPRC to be eligible for On-Campus Interviews & Resume Referrals. 

To participate in On-Campus Interviews- All students are REQUIRED to: 

1. Establish a College Central Network account and post an employer-ready, polished resume to it. 
2. Attend an On-Campus Recruiting Orientation.  For a list of current offerings, click here.   You must reserve a spot by contacting the CPRC at career@sbu.edu, 716.375.2384 or by stopping by at Reilly Center, Room 231.  Remember space is limited and on a first-come first-serve basis.  
3. Sign a "Statement of Intent to Participate in On-Campus Recruiting Contract". 

Types of On-Campus Interviews facilitated by the SBU CPRC: 

Pre-Screen- With a pre-screen process, organizations forward a position posting with specific applicant criteria and the CPRC both posts and promotes the position.  Qualified applications are forwarded to the employer approximately 2 weeks prior to confirmed on-campus interview date, reviewed, and interview candidates are selected.  The CPRC then notifies selected candidates and begins building the interview day schedule for the recruiter.  Companies can screen on the following aspects when setting up an interview schedule: major, GPA, graduation date, and citizenship. 

Résumé Referral - With a résumé referral, the résumés of interested candidates are made available to the employer prior to setting an interview date in order to determine if there is interest in the position and if there are suitable candidates seeking interviews. For example, a company may set a Résumé Referral Deadline, look over the résumés and then choose whether or not to interview on campus.   

Open - Open interviews indicate that an organization representative will come to campus, have a series of open interview slots for students who are interested in the organization, and allow students to sign up for an interview.  These slots are filled on a first-come first-served basis and those that sign up will be interviewed. 

The SBU CPRC provides current students with an excellent opportunity to interview on-campus with employers who have posted jobs and internships through a web-based system called College Central Network.  Students wishing to participate in On-Campus Interviews must have College Central Network account. 

Guidelines/Eligibility 

Any student can participate in the On-Campus Recruiting Program regardless of major. Some employers will indicate that they want specific majors while others will recruit students from any major because 1) they are seeking candidates with specific characteristics or skills rather than a specific major or 2) they know that if they get the "right" individual, they can provide the new hire with formal training for the position. 

All students must have qualifications that match the job requirements, be sincerely interested in the positions available, and be prepared to show an employer that you can do the job during an interview. Please review the current Recruiting Calendar to determine if there are organizations to which you would like to apply. 

There are very specific guidelines for you to follow when participating in on-campus recruiting. If you do not meet or understand the guidelines presented, please talk to a CPRC staff member regarding your eligibility to participate in on-campus interviewing/resume referral.  

To participate you must: 

1)  Be a CURRENT St. Bonaventure University undergraduate or graduate student. 

2)  Be registered with COLLEGE CENTRAL NETWORK  and have an employer-ready résumé  posted to your account.   

3)  Attend an On-Campus Recruiting Orientation and sign an OCR contract.  Your contract is valid for 1 academic year.  

4)  Meet the requirements/qualifications 

•   To be eligible to participate, a student must meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which the organization is recruiting.

 

•   The minimum qualifications are provided to the CPRC by the organization requesting a campus visit and are specified in the College Central Network posting and the On-Campus Interviewing Bulletin Board located outside of the CPRC, RC Room 231.  Examples of some of the qualifications set forth by the employer include, but are not limited to: Graduation Date, Application Form, Major/minor/eligibility for certifications, licensure, CPA exam, etc., Qualifications/Skills/Abilities, GPA, etc. 

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Participation Requirements  

The CPRC uses College Central Network to manage much of the recruiting process.  What is College Central Network?  Click here.  

Mandatory Requirements 

To participate, students must sign the "Statement of Intent to Participate in On-Campus Recruiting" contract (valid for 1 academic year), and fulfill the following requirements: 

1)  Attend an On-Campus Recruiting Orientation (fall or spring) 

2)  Create/Update an COLLEGE CENTRAL NETWORK account  

3)  Upload an employer-ready resume to your COLLEGE CENTRAL NETWORK account 

4)  Submit, as indicated in the individual posting, any additional materials required by the employer: transcripts, data sheet, online application, etc. BY DEADLINE 

CRITICAL NOTE:  Be sure that you are able to access transcript information by checking with the SBU Business Office - if there is a hold on your account you will not be granted access to your unofficial or official transcripts! 

5)  Adhere to all policies and procedures governing this process including those set forth by the CPRC and those established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 

6)  Dress and conduct yourself in a manner that will both promote your professionalism and leave a positive image of St. Bonaventure University.  

STRONGLY Recommended 

1)  Attend professional presentations and career development workshops offered by the CPRC and academic departments (Information Sessions, Meet the Accountants Night, Drop In Resume Critiques, Interviewing Skills, etc.). 

2)  Research, Research, Research!   Prepare for your on-campus interview by reviewing the job description, company website and literature. 

3)  Practice your interviewing skills with Interview Stream or read through the CPRC's resources on interview tips.  

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Policies/Student Obligations 

Please review the following statements so you thoroughly understand them prior to 1) registering for On-Campus Interviews, or 2) participating in any campus interviews held through the OCR Program. 

Students often ask, "Why there are so many rules in the On-Campus Interview Program (OCI)?" The policies and procedures have been developed to maximize the opportunities for students while ensuring fairness among students, among employers, and in their interactions with each other. 

We are consistent about deadlines and policies with all participants. Since this program is a potential bridge to the work world, we are also communicating an important lesson about that world: in a job, it is important to learn the rules and meet the deadlines. 

Student Obligations in the Recruitment Process (Ethics) – Principles for Professional Conduct, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 

1)  Provide accurate information  

2)  Show up on time for your scheduled interview (about 10 to 15 minutes early)  

3)  Accept an offer of employment in good faith  

4)  Notify employers on a timely basis of an acceptance or non acceptance of an offer  

5)  Withdraw from interviews and further job searches when you accept an offer  

6)  Interview only for positions and employers in which you have the qualifications and interest  

To ensure the best quality interview experience for you and employers, we have established these expectations for on-campus interview participation: 

Once you have been selected as a candidate for an on-campus interview opportunity, you are expected to keep your interview appointment. Not showing up for an interview reflects negatively on you and on St. Bonaventure University. If you must miss an interview appointment due to an urgent situation, contact our office at 716.375.2384 as soon as possible so that we can notify the recruiter. Consequences of a "no-show" interview or cancelling the same day of your scheduled interview generally result in the following: 

a)  Meet with the On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator 

b)  Compose a letter of apology/explanation to the recruiter as soon as possible.  OCR Apology Template  

c)  'cc' CPRC On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator on final correspondence to recruiter 

The CPRC reserves the right to suspend on-campus recruiting activities for participants that do not adhere to guidelines.  Suspension of participation is determined on a case by case basis. 

If you are really not interested in the opportunity, but would like to get some practice interviewing you should talk to a career advisor about your need to practice interviewing.  To set up an appointment, call 716.375.2384. 

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Applying 

At a glance.... 

• Find out which organizations are coming to SBU to recruit - Check the Recruiting Calendar every day.  It is important to check daily so that you do not miss any deadlines. 
• Read job and organizational descriptions found in your College Central Network account  
• Submit application materials (resumes, cover letters, unofficial transcripts, etc.)  
• Find out if you have been selected for particular interviews 
• Go to the CPRC to sign up for a specific interview time 

In 3 steps.... 

First Step 

You must have a fully complete and updated profile on COLLEGE CENTRAL NETWORK and uploaded an employer-ready resume to your account. 

CRITICAL NOTE:  Be mindful of resume content and, in particular, how specific the OBJECTIVE is.  If you plan on applying for a number of positions, you may want to keep the OBJECTIVE either, a) off of the resume or b) general enough that it is still applicable to many different organizations. 

Second Step 

On-Campus Interviewing is available to currently enrolled SBU students ONLY.  Students become eligible to participate once they have completed an On-Campus Recruiting Orientation Session and a "Statement of Intent to Participate in On-Campus Recruiting Contract".  This contract allows you access for 1 full academic year. 

Third Step 

After registering with College Central Network (CCN), uploading a professional resume, authorizing the CPRC to forward your resume at your request on your behalf, attending a mandatory On-campus Recruiting Orientation and submitting your OCR contract, you can begin searching and applying for positions available through the On-Campus Recruiting Program. When listing opportunities, each employer will specify the materials required for interview consideration. 

NOTE:  All employers will require a resume. Some may also request an unofficial transcript, cover letter, data sheet, writing sample, etc. 

Plan ahead. You must be registered with the On-Campus Interview Program and College Central Network in order to submit any application materials for a given deadline. Deadlines are final and strictly enforced. 

*Release Agreement - By uploading your resume, you are agreeing to make this document available for release by the SBU CPRC when you submit to an OCR position. 

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Interviewing  

How to Sign Up for an Interview 

Once the employers have established their interview dates and times, reviewed resumes/application materials and made the CPRC aware of their candidates, selected students will be notified via e-mail and asked to go to the CPRC to sign up for an interview time.  Please note, 

a)  You must sign up for an interview in person. That means that you need to come to the CPRC main office, Reilly Center Room 231,  to select your time. 

b)  Pick up any additional items distributed by the employer such as informational pamphlets, brochures, etc.  Review it! 

c)  Note the time, date and location of the interview in your calendar.  Allow extra time for variances in the schedule that may occur due to day-of recruiter schedule issues. 

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Making the Most of On-Campus Recruiting 

1)  Be Aware of Deadlines and Other Important Dates:  Application Material Submission Deadline, Interview Dates, Class Schedules, Exams and Projects, Drop-In Resume Critiques, On-Campus Orientation Dates, etc.  

2)  Get Your Documentation Ready.....EARLY!  You don't have to wait until you find an on-campus interviewing opportunity to perfect your documents for submission.  Have your resume critiqued and reviewed by CPRC staff and another trustworthy, in-the-know individual for content and logic; free of typos, mis-spellings, etc.  Proof your documents carefully!  

a)  Be sure that your business office account is clear of any 'holds' so that transcripts can be accessed when required.  Have several copies of your resume on resume paper ready to go in a portfolio.  Be sure that your CCN account is updated and current. 

3)  Professional Dress:  Have your suit ready to go!  Clean, neat and well-fitted.  

4)  Interview Information:  Location, Notification, Scheduling - Employers will notify the CPRC regarding students selected for interviews usually 1 week before the interview.  Selected students will receive an e-mail notification of their selection and will be asked to schedule a time IN PERSON in the CPRC - RC, Room 231.  Only students on the employers list may sign up for an interview.  Attend interview workshops, meet with a Career Counselor, well in advance, to further enhance your skills.  On the day of, give yourself plenty of time to get from your home/residence hall to the Reilly Center.  BUILD SOME FLEXIBILITY INTO YOUR SCHEDULE AS INTERVIEWS CAN START EARLIER OR LATER THAN SCHEDULED!  

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Glossary of Terms 

COLLEGE CENTRAL NETWORK:  The exclusive job and internship posting site for SBU students and alumni.  It is also a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT that OCR participants have an established account in CCN with a complete and current profile as well as an employer-ready resume.  

CPRC- Career and Professional Readiness Center, Reilly Center 231 - career@sbu.edu 

DEADLINE: The deadlines listed on the recruiting calendar are final.  All documents and mandatory OCR requirements must be fulfilled and submitted by 4:00 pm of that day.    

EMPLOYER GUIDELINES: Policy all companies must adhere to in order to participate in the OCR program. Click here to review the employer guidelines. Please notify us if you believe an employer has violated them. 

GRADE SHEET OR TRANSCRIPT: A list of college classes and grades that you have received thus far. To upload your grade sheet if the employer requests it as part of the company's online application process, you will need to copy and paste your my.sbu transcript into the online application.  

CRITICAL NOTE:  Be sure that you are able to access transcript information by checking with the SBU Business Office - if there is a hold on your account you will not be granted access to your unofficial or official transcripts!  

INFORMATION SESSION: Employer’s company presentation. Company representatives give you information about the company they work for, as well as the positions they are hiring for. Information Sessions usually take place on the second floor of the Reilly Center in either room 219 or 211/213. 

INFORMATION TABLE: Company representatives provide information about the company they work for, as well as the positions they are hiring for. Information Tables usually take place in the RC lobby; just outside of the RC Cafe. 

OCR: Abbreviation for the On-Campus Recruiting program. 

OCR CONTRACT: Agreement you must sign to gain access to on-campus interview schedules. This includes the Cancellation and No-Show Policy agreement and is valid for one academic year. 

ON-CAMPUS RECRUITING ORIENTATION: Mandatory attendance requirement for all on-campus interview participants. 

PRESCREEN: Employers will choose their candidates for interviews based upon submitted resumes. If you are preselected, you can sign up for an interview slot during the Preselect Sign-up period. You must frequently check your e-mail or inquire at the Career and Professional Readiness Center to see if you have been preselected. If selected to interview, you must sign up IN PERSON in the CPRC.  Once you have signed up for a time slot, you are committed to the interview or you will be subject to the Cancellation or No-Show Policy. 

RESUME REFFERRAL: Just like with on-campus interviews, you would view the posting in CCN, follow the application instructions and the CPRC staff then forward your materials to the employer.  Representatives do not physically come to campus and conduct interviews. Instead, if they’re interested, they will contact student candidates directly for an in-house or phone interview. 

SCHEDULE: Term used to describe an employer’s on-campus interviews. 

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