Recruiting Policies

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.

• Advertising and Outreach
• Events
• Career Fairs
• Employment Applications
• Interviews
• Job Offers
• Equal Opportunity Statement
• Consequences for Recruiting Policy Violations
• Student Recruiting Policies
• Students Right to Privacy
• Questions and Concerns

Advertising and Outreach

2nd Year All event advertising before November 2, 2009 must be clearly directed at second-year class of 2010 students only; there is no restriction as to when direct outreach to second-year students may begin.

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.

1st Year Direct outreach and event advertising to the first-year class of 2011 students may not begin before November 2, 2009. Direct outreach includes, but is not limited to, phone calls, letters and emails made directly by a company representative.

Both Direct outreach to former employees is acceptable at any time.

Events

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 All on-campus recruiting events (including events for clubs and sections) may not begin before 3:00 p.m. ET on class days. Please note, some days may have later start times.

Both All off-campus recruiting events may not begin before 5:30 p.m. ET on class days. Please note, some days may have later start times.

Both Scheduling events and/or event-related travel in conflict with a student's class schedule is a violation of HBS recruiting policy.

2nd Year On-Campus Company Recruiting Presentations for second-year class of 2010 students may begin on September 21, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.

1st Year On-Campus Company Recruiting Presentations for first-year class of 2011 students may begin on November 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.

2nd Year Recruiting events for second-year class of 2010 students may begin on September 21, 2009. Companies participating in on-campus Networking Nights (September 14-15) may hold social/networking events following Networking Night events.

1st Year Recruiting events for first-year class of 2011 students may begin on November 12, 2009. Companies participating in on-campus Company Information Days (November 9-10) may hold social/networking events following CID events. Events for international offices may be held during the second-year dedicated interview period, October 26-30.

Both Content or educational presentations by firms through a student club are permitted; however there is only one content presentation per firm before November 12th if the presentation is open to first-year students. There is no limit per firm for second-year only content presentations or first-year content presentations after November 12th.

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

Club-sponsored Career Fairs may begin on November 2, 2009; please refer to the Student Clubs web site for more information.

On-Campus Interview Reservations

NEW! For on-campus interviews, schedules for each job posting must adhere to the following structure. If you have one interview schedule, it can be fully closed. For two or three schedules, one schedule can be fully closed; the additional schedules must have a combination of closed and open interview slots (see chart for details). For four or more schedules, one schedule can be fully closed; the total of all additional schedules must represent a ratio of 70% closed / 30% open slots.

Employment Applications

2nd Year Applications from second-year class of 2010 students may be requested on or after September 30, 2009. Applications for international offices may be requested on or after September 18, 2009.

1st Year Applications from first-year class of 2011 students may be requested on or after January 19, 2010. Applications for international offices may be requested on or after December 1, 2009.

Interviews

Both Students may be interviewed on or after the following designated interview start dates for each class:

Class of 2010 for Career Hiring
October 26, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. ET

Class of 2011 for Summer Internships
February 16, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. ET

Both International companies and divisions may hold interviews on or after October 2, 2009 for second year students, and after first year exams end on December 21, 2009 for first year students. Offers may not be extended to second-year class of 2010 students prior to the start of the second-year Dedicated Interview Period: October 26, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. ET. Offers may not be extended to first-year class of 2011 students prior to the end of the first-year Dedicated Interview Period: February 18, 2010 at 6:00 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. Throughout the year, second-round interviews should be scheduled on Open Days (when students do not have class) or around a student's class schedule.

Both Companies must offer at least one alternative interview date option for second-round interviews.

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 occur 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

2nd Year Offers may not be extended to second-year class of 2010 students prior to the start of the second-year Dedicated Interview Period: October 26, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

1st Year Offers may not be extended to first-year class of 2011 students prior to the end of the first-year Dedicated Interview Period: February 18, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Both Please notify a student, in writing, of the major elements of a job offer, including start date or range of dates to avoid misunderstandings. MBA Career & Professional Development asks students to notify companies of their decisions as soon as possible.

2nd Year Second-year class of 2010 students may not be required to accept offers before January 15, 2010, or three weeks after the offer is made, whichever date is later. Full-time offers to previous employees and/or summer interns must be held open until at least November 16, 2009. 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 to first-year class of 2011 students must remain open in their entirety (including job function, base salary, cash bonuses, tuition reimbursement, etc.) until March 8, 2010 or two weeks after the offer is made, 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

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

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

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

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

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.

Harvard Business School reserves the right to modify its recruiting policies throughout the year.