Policies & Guidelines
Ensuring a Level Playing Field
HBS has developed a set of policies and guidelines to which all recruiting partners must agree. The shared commitment to these policies and guidelines, by both recruiting partners and the School, provides the foundation for a fair and ethical recruiting process. While it is not possible to outline all of the behaviors and actions that are in conflict with a fair recruiting process, MBA Career & Professional Development asks that you review your company's recruiting actions and ensure that they reflect both the spirit and intent of fairness.
HBS makes its programs and activities available to organizations whose behavior and practices are consistent with the policies outlined below. Please become familiar with them and use them as a reference throughout the year.
*Policies as of 11/28/11.
- Advertising and Outreach
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2nd Year All event advertising before October 24, 2011 must be clearly directed at second-year class of 2012 students only; there is no restriction as to when direct outreach to second-year students may begin.
1st Year Direct outreach and event advertising to the first-year class of 2013 students may not begin before October 24, 2011. Direct outreach includes, but is not limited to, phone calls, letters and emails made directly by a company representative.
Both Generic advertising (brand awareness) to all students may begin after matriculation. Generic advertising through mass mailing, mailbox stuffing or student newspaper ads should not invite first-year students to events or ask/invite first-year students to contact the organization. Direct outreach to former employees is acceptable at any time.
- Events
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A recruiting event is defined as any activity where company-specific information is presented/provided/shared including, but not limited to, details about company culture, career opportunities and recruiting practices. Examples (not comprehensive) of recruiting events include presentations, informational sessions, meetings, receptions, cocktail parties and dinners.
Both All recruiting events, regardless of location and sponsor (including events for clubs and sections), must be approved by MBA Career & Professional Development.
Both Scheduling events and/or event-related travel in conflict with a student's class schedule is a violation of HBS recruiting policy.
Both On-campus events may not begin before 3:30 p.m. ET on class days. Off-campus events may not begin before 5:30 p.m. ET on class days. Some days may have later start times. There are no recruiting events allowed the evenings before exams.
Both Content presentations (around a specific topic of interest to students) are limited to three (3) per semester and must be open to both classes.
2nd Year On- and off-campus company targeted events (e.g., receptions, dinners, coffee chats) may begin on September 6, 2011. All other company events may begin on September 12, 2011.
1st Year On- and off-campus company recruiting events may begin on November 1, 2011. One first-year content or educational presentation per firm is permitted from September 19 - November 7, 2011.
Company events for international offices may begin on October 24, 2011 with approval from MBA Career & Professional Development (specific outreach guidelines apply).
Both Raffles and casino nights are heavily regulated by Massachusetts state law; thus MBA Career & Professional Development and HBS student clubs cannot support or advertise casino nights.
- Career Fairs
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Club-sponsored Career Fairs may begin on October 24, 2011; please refer to the Student Clubs web site for more information.
- On-Campus Interview Reservations
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Both For on-campus interviews, schedules for each job posting must adhere to the structure of 70% closed / 30% open slots.
- Employment Applications
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2nd Year The application deadline is October 4, 2011 for companies participating in the Dedicated Interview Period (October 24-27, 2011).
1st Year Applications may be requested on or after January 4, 2012. Applications for international offices may be requested on or after December 1, 2011.
- Interviews
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2nd Year Students may be interviewed off-campus beginning August 1, 2011. HBS is hosting an on-campus Dedicated Interview Period October 24-27, 2011. All interviews must be conducted outside of class time.
1st Year Students may be interviewed beginning January 23, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. ET or for international positions, after first-year exams end on December 16, 2011. Regardless of when the interview occurred, offers may not be extended prior to the end of the first-year Dedicated Interview Period: January 26, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Both First- and second-round interviews scheduled during the Dedicated Interview Periods must be held in the Boston area.
Both Scheduling interviews and/or interview-related travel in conflict with a student's class schedule is a violation of HBS recruiting policy. View all 2nd and 1st year open days.
Both Companies must offer at least one alternative interview date option for second-round interviews that does not conflict with class time.
Both It is customary for employers to reimburse students for travel expenses incurred to interview; if applicable, please indicate your policy when inviting a student to interview.
Both Interviewers are asked to communicate the next step in the process to students at the conclusion of each interview. MBA Career & Professional Development recommends that follow-up notification to students occurs within one week of the interview, regardless of the outcome or decision status.
Both HBS prohibits the use of testing instruments, such as questionnaires, to pre-screen students for first-round interviews. All students must be provided with an equal opportunity to be considered by a company prior to first-round interviews.
- Job Offers
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2nd Year Offers may be extended beginning August 1, 2011. The offer must remain open in its entirety until January 13, 2012, or two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer, whichever date is later. Full-time offers to previous employees and or summer interns must be held open until at least November 15, 2011. It is permissible to offer incentives to students who accept a full-time position in advance of these dates. The base offer (including base salary, base signing bonus, performance bonuses and job function) must remain open until the decision date.
1st Year Offers may not be extended prior to the end of the first-year Dedicated Interview Period: January 26, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Offers must remain open in their entirety (including job function, base salary, cash bonuses, tuition reimbursement, etc.) until February 24, 2012 or two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer, whichever date is later. For previous employees, students and companies may determine a mutually agreeable decision date.
Both Recruiters may not pursue a student who has already accepted a job offer from another organization, as this behavior can damage relationships with students, other recruiters and the School.
Both Withdrawing job offers, whether verbal or written, violates professional standards and HBS recruiting policy. If you are considering retracting an offer for any reason, please contact MBA Career & Professional Development immediately.
- Equal Opportunity Statement
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In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, veteran status or handicap in admission to, access to, treatment in or employment in its programs and activities. Accordingly, the School makes its facilities available to recruiting organizations whose practices are consistent with this policy.
- Consequences for Recruiting Policy Violations
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MBA Career & Professional Development will evaluate each recruiting policy violation on a case-by-case basis. Possible courses of action include:
- not granting access to future editions of the HBS Resume Book
- placing a company on probation or warning for a period of time; this information is made available to students on the HBS internal web site and a letter is placed in the company's permanent file
- prohibiting a company from recruiting at HBS for a period of time; this information is made available to students on our internal website and a letter is placed in the company's permanent file
- Student Recruiting Policies
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MBA Career & Professional Development has created and implemented a set of policies that govern student behavior throughout the recruiting process, both on-and off-campus. These policies include procedures for late interview cancellations, no-shows, reneging on accepted offers and other violations of professional standards. Please refer to Student Recruiting Policies for more information.
Students are subject to penalties for violating these policies, and employers are asked to notify MBA Career & Professional Development of all late interview cancellations, no-shows and reneges.
MBA Career & Professional Development believes that a strong combination of student and employer recruiting policies will allow employers to develop a long-term relationship with the School, while providing our students with the maximum number of career opportunities.
- Students' Right to Privacy
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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) applies to any school that receives federal funding, including Harvard Business School. Students consent to make their resumes available to recruiters through the Resume Book. However, the Resume Book is intended for the use of recruiters only; it is not available to every requester outside the School. FERPA applies to Resume Book purchasers also.
- Questions and Concerns
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Occasionally, a participant in the recruiting process violates specific rules or general standards of propriety. For assistance regarding any incidents, please contact MBA Career & Professional Development immediately.
- Social Media Guidelines
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The HBS MBA Career & Professional Development twitter account, HBSRecruitMBA, broadcasts recruiting information and HBS news for corporations across the globe interested in hiring Harvard Business School MBA students. Our twitter account is not intended to replace other communication efforts including newsletters, individual e-mails, Career Hub or our MBA Recruiting site.
To ensure a fair and ethical recruiting process for both students and corporate partners, we ask that our twitter account not be utilized as a forum to discuss individual circumstances including student specific information. Please e-mail mbacareers@hbs.edu should you need to address any particular situations.
Harvard Business School reserves the right to modify its recruiting policies throughout the year.
