Just as UMass Amherst employer partners are required to adhere to specific standards of behavior during the on-campus recruiting process, so are all UMass students. In order to maintain productive and high-quality relationships with employers, students are expected to follow the “Playing Fair…Your Rights & Responsibilities as a Job Seeker” guidelines published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Expectations of UMass Students in the Campus Recruiting Process
1. PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ACADEMIC WORK AND RECORDS, INCLUDING COURSES TAKEN, GRADES, POSITIONS HELD, AND DUTIES PERFORMED.
You can, however, refuse to provide an employer with specific information about any job offers you may have received from other employers. You do not have to name the organizations that have made you offers, nor do you have to provide specific information about what salaries you’ve discussed with those organizations. Instead, you can give broad responses to such questions, naming types of employers–“I’ve interviewed with employers in the retail industry”–and offering salary ranges rather than specific dollar amounts–“The salary offers I’ve received have been in the $25,000 to $30,000 range.” Incidentally, it’s in your best interest to research salaries and to let employers know that you have done so.
2. BE HONEST.
Conduct your job search with honesty and integrity. Do not lie or stretch the truth on your resume, applications, or during any part of the interview process.
3. INTERVIEW GENUINELY.
Interview only with employers you’re sincerely interested in working for and whose eligibility requirements you meet. “Practice” interviewing is misleading to employers–wasting both their time and money–and prevents sincerely interested candidates from using those interview slots. A UMass Career Advisor would be happy to conduct a practice interview session with you – just ask.
4. DON’T KEEP EMPLOYERS HANGING.
Communicate your acceptance or refusal of a job offer to employers as promptly as possible, so they can notify other candidates that they are still being considered or that the position is filled.
5. ACCEPT A JOB OFFER IN GOOD FAITH.
When you an accept an offer, you should have every intention of honoring that commitment. Accepting an offer only as a precautionary measure is misleading to the employer and may restrict opportunities for others who are genuinely interested in that employer.
6. WITHDRAW FROM RECRUITING WHEN YOUR JOB SEARCH IS COMPLETED.
If you accept an offer or decide that full-time graduate or professional studies are for you, notify your career center and withdraw from the on-campus recruiting process immediately. And, let employers that are actively considering you for a job know that you are now out of the running. By informing everyone that you’ve got a job or are headed to graduate school, you not only get the chance to brag but also to help your friends who are trying to get on interview schedules or who are being considered for positions.
7. OBTAIN THE CAREER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE.
It’s up to you to acquire the information about career opportunities, organizations, and any other information that might influence your decisions about an employing organization.
LATE INTERVIEW CANCELLATIONS
A student attempting to cancel an on-campus interview within two business days of the interview date must do the following:
Repeated late interview cancellations may result in suspension of the student’s access to Handshake.
INTERVIEW NO SHOWS
Failure to honor an interview appointment is considered a serious breach of courtesy and ethics, and can negatively impact UMass’s reputation among recruiters.
Students who fail to attend a scheduled interview must, within 24 hours of the interview, send an email of apology (including an explanation of why they missed the interview) to the recruiter with a copy to the College Career Advisor.
A determination will be made by the Career Center as to whether the student will continue to participate in the on-campus recruiting program. Invalid explanations and/or repeat behavior will result in immediate suspension from Handshake and the on-campus recruiting program.
