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 April 22nd, 2013.
- Advertising and Outreach
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Both Generic advertising (brand awareness) to all students may begin after matriculation. Generic advertising through mass mailing, mailbox stuffing (via the HBS Student Association) or student newspaper ads must not invite first-year students to events or ask/invite first-year students to contact the organization.
2nd Year Direct outreach and event advertising to second-year students can begin at any time. Any event advertising before October 17, 2013 must be clearly directed to second-year students only.
1st Year Direct outreach and event advertising to first-year students can begin October 17, 2013. Companies cannot use former employees for outreach/advertising prior to this date. Direct outreach includes, but is not limited to, phone calls, letters and emails from a company representative. For international offices, please refer to the Advertising and Interviewing for International Positions section below.
Both The HBS Resume Book databases are the only tools available for companies to access HBS student contact information. Former employees cannot be used to access this information on a company's behalf.
Both 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 Company events and/or event-related travel must not conflict with a student's class schedule.
Both Content presentations (non-recruiting, educational in nature or focused on a specific topic of interest to students) can begin September 9, 2013 and must be open to both classes. Content presentations are limited to four per semester; two of the four can be held prior to October 28, 2013.
2nd Year 2nd Year Company recruiting events can begin on September 9, 2013.
1st Year Company recruiting events can begin on October 28, 2013. For international offices, please refer to the Advertising and Interviewing for International Positions section below.
Both Company events are not allowed the evenings before exams.
Both Off-campus company events cannot begin before 5:30 p.m. ET on class days. Some days may have later start times.
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.
- Employment Applications
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2nd Year The earliest application deadline for Career Hub postings is September 13, 2013. For companies participating in the Dedicated Interview Period (October 23-25, 2013), the application deadline is October 2, 2013.
1st YearThe earliest application deadline permitted is January 2, 2014. This is also the application deadline for companies participating in the Dedicated Interview Period (January 21-24, 2014). For international offices, please refer to the Advertising and Interviewing for International Positions section below.
- Interviews
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2nd Year HBS Coordinated (on-campus) Interviews begin on October 23, 2013.
1st Year Students can be interviewed beginning January 21, 2014. This is also the date that HBS Coordinated Interviews begin. Offers cannot be extended prior to the end of the first-year Dedicated Interview Period: January 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. ET. For international offices, please refer to the Advertising and Interviewing for International Positions section below.
Both Interviews and/or interview-related travel must not conflict with a student's class schedule. It is recommended that companies hold interviews on the following Open Days, when students do not have class.
Open Days: Second-Year
September 25 (note: Company Appointments may be held on-campus) October: 4, 11, 14 (Columbus Day), 28 November: 1, 8, 11 (Veterans' Day), 22 December: 6 January: 31 February: 17 (Presidents' Day), 28 March: 3, 17-21 (Spring Break) April: 4, 11, 21 (Patriots' Day)
First-Year
January: 31
February: 7, 14, 17 (Presidents' Day)
March: 3, 17-21 (Spring Break), 31
April: 11, 21 (Patriots' Day)
2nd Year For HBS Coordinated Interviews, positions with more than one schedule must adhere to a ratio of 75% closed interview slots / 25% open interview slots. Positions with only one schedule have the option of 100% closed interview slots.
1st Year All HBS Coordinated Interview schedules must adhere to a ratio of 75% closed interview slots / 25% open interview slots.
Both Companies must offer at least two date options for first and second round interviews that do not conflict with class time. During the Dedicated Interview Periods (October 23-25, 2013 and January 21-24, 2014) the two interview date option policy applies only to second round interviews as MBA Career & Professional Development assigns first round interview dates.
Both First and second round interviews scheduled during the Dedicated Interview Periods (October 23-25, 2013 and January 21-24, 2014) must be held in the Boston area.
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 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, 2013. The offer must remain open until January 10, 2014, or two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer, whichever date is later. Full-time offers to previous employees (including sponsored students) and/or summer interns must be held open until at least November 15, 2013. 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, guaranteed compensation 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 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Offers must remain open (including base salary, guaranteed compensation and job function) until February 21, 2014 or two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer, whichever date is later. It is permissible to offer incentives to students who accept a summer internship position in advance of this date. 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.
- Advertising and Interviewing for 1st Year International Positions
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1st Year Advertising and Outreach Targeted outreach and event advertising to first-year students through MBA Career & Professional Development can begin October 1, 2013. Companies cannot use former employees for outreach/advertising prior to this date.
1st Year Events Company recruiting events can begin on October 12, 2013 with approval from MBA Career & Professional Development (specific outreach guidelines apply).
1st Year Employment Applications International opportunities can have an application deadline of December 2, 2013 or later.
1st Year Interviews and Offers Students can be interviewed beginning December 17, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Offers cannot be extended prior to the end of the first-year Dedicated Interview Period: January 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
All other policies apply. - 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 database.
- 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.
