Career Management Recruiters Guide

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Internship Recruiting Calendar and Policies

Please note that new policies are in BOLD.

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Job Descriptions

Upload job descriptions in COIN before your corporate presentation in the fall or one month before the position's application deadline, at the latest.

Best Practice: Upload job descriptions to COIN as early as possible and be as detailed as possible regarding the position's function, requirements, location, and work authorization to ensure that you receive the most prepared candidates. Companies can sometimes be disappointed in application numbers if job descriptions are uploaded late or are ambiguous.

Application Due Dates

For all positions for which companies will recruit on campus, applications must be solicited through COIN. Companies may require additional means of application if they wish; this information may also be communicated to candidates through COIN. Application deadlines generally default to 9 a.m. (eastern time, unless otherwise specified) one week before the invitation-list due date.

For internship positions, the earliest application due date is December 3, 2013. For internship interviews occurring January 13 - 17, 2014, application due dates will be determined by the Career Management Center.

Interview Guidelines

• First round interviews for internship positions:
  • Investment banks may choose one of the following interview date options:
    • Interviews on Monday, January 13, 2014, with second rounds on January 16, or later.
    • Interviews on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, with second rounds on January 15, January 17, or later. This option is preferable for recruiting teams coming from Europe or Asia.
  • First-round interviews for marketing and consulting functions can begin on Wednesday, January 15, 2014.
  • Investment management and all other industries can begin interviews on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
  • No interviews may take place before January 13, 2014.
• Off-campus first round interviews for positions in any industry may take place on Fridays beginning January 17, 2014 or on Tuesday, January 21.
  • Recruiters must advise the CMC of plans to hold off-campus first-round interviews so that interview days are properly advertised and not overbooked. This includes the number of candidates seen and the duration of interviews.
• Second-round interviews for industries other than investment banking may begin on Thursday, January 16, 2014, and continue daily.
  • Students should be offered at least one alternative day for second round interviews.
  • Students may not be invited to or be asked to commit to second-round interviews before first-round interviews are complete.
  • Second-round interviews are scheduled directly between the candidate and the company.
• Students may not miss academic commitments in order to interview.
• Companies choosing to interview students on Fridays evenings or Saturdays must be prepared to accommodate students who request an alternative date for religious reasons.
• Exceptions may be made for International offices; however the academic calendar will influence the School's decision. If candidates are required to travel to other cities to interview, your policy on travel reimbursement should be clearly outlined in advance.

Interview Blackout Periods

During the following periods, firms should not offer interview schedules; however, individual students may be interviewed if arrangements do not conflict with personal academic schedules:

• March 11 - 23, 2014 (midterm exams and spring break)
• May 5 - May 16, 2014 (last day of classes and final exam period)

Offers

• Offers may be extended after 5 PM EST on Friday, January 17, 2014. Firms may not invite students to sell days or other post-interview events until after offers are extended.
• Offers must remain open until February 21, 2014, or for a minimum of two weeks from receipt of a written offer, whichever is later.
• Interviews for fellowships or scholarships that include the offer of a summer internship must not take place until January 13, 2014. Offers must be left open in their entirety until February 21, 2014.
• Hiring organizations should inform students of their status and/or timeline for decisions within two weeks of their interviews, regardless of outcome.
• The rescinding of a verbal or written job offer, unless done under extenuating circumstances such as unforeseen business conditions or egregious student behavior, is a very serious violation of Columbia Business School recruiting policy and will be handled accordingly. Delayed start dates of an extended period of time may be considered rescinded offers as well. Sanctions against firms in violation of this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any organization considering rescinding an offer or delaying a start date should first contact Bruce Lloyd, director of employer relations.
• Students who accept offers verbally or in writing and then renege on that commitment have violated recruiting policy and the Columbia Business School honor code. Sanctions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will include disciplinary action, which may result in the suspension of recruiting privileges and/or a requirement to appear before the dean's Disciplinary Committee.

Fellowships

The School will not publicize fellowships that are awarded prior to matriculation and require a summer internship following the candidate's first year. CMC policies apply to neither candidate nor company in cases of internships or other agreements resulting from prematriculation fellowships or other events.

Applications from matriculated students for fellowships that include a summer internship may be solicited after Monday, September 23, 2013. Associated interviews and offers for jobs coupled with these fellowships must adhere to CMC interview and offer policies. Those job offers must be held open in their entirety until Friday, February 21, 2014.

Pre-interview Dinners and Sell Days

Pre-interview dinners are generally not allowed. Exceptions may be made for companies outside the tri-state area. Please consult Natalie Rios or your account manager about your company's circumstances.

Sell Days should never conflict with academic commitments and are therefore best held on Fridays or Saturdays. Additionally, firms may not invite students to sell days or other post interview events until after offers are extended.