Participating in company events, on-campus, off-campus, and virtually, provides organizations the opportunity to connect with students and build brand awareness.

Let our team help you choose an effective format based on your recruiting goals. Once you determine the right event(s) for your organization, please submit a date request via our recruiting platform (view fall recruiting dates). All events must be approved by HBS Career & Professional Development.

RECRUITING PRESENTATIONS

Leverage recruiting presentations to educate students about your company culture, a “day in the life” at your company, career paths, and internship and full-time opportunities. Organizations can host one recruiting presentation per class each academic year. Recruiting presentations are held either on-campus in a classroom, off-campus at a local venue, or virtually.

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A recruiting presentation may be the right fit for you if:

• You have a well-known brand on campus.
• You typically hire a large number of HBS students.
• You have a charismatic and authentic presenter knowledgeable and passionate about the company and the roles you are hiring for.

Event Format

On-Campus: Organizations are provided a large classroom on campus. Keep in mind that average attendance at on-campus presentations is 20 students. Presentations last 45 minutes and typically follow a format of 30 minutes of content followed by 15 minutes of Q & A. Career & Professional Development staff members will take attendance at your presentation. Catering is not permitted.

Off-Campus: Organizations are responsible for handling all off-campus logistics at a local venue or at your office. Presentations will be approved for 1.5 hours and may begin at 5:30 p.m. Often off-campus presentations include part presentation and part reception/networking.

Virtual: Post a link to your virtual presentation platform of choice so students can view your presentation from anywhere. Offer live Q&A through a chat box or follow up with company conversations.

When preparing for your presentation, keep the following feedback from students in mind:

• Use slides sparingly.
• Speak to the culture, but elaborate more than what is on the company website.
• Allow plenty of time for student questions.
• Offer a perspective on a "day in the life." Students want to hear what they could expect from a role at your organization.
• When possible, send a mix of senior and junior personnel and HBS alumni to the event to speak to how work gets done throughout the company and highlight career paths.
• Invite students to attend. Career & Professional Development will advertise your event, but we also encourage you to reach out to students via the resume database and student clubs.

Company Conversations

Company Conversations provide a platform for organizations to connect with students 1:1 or in a small group. Similar to recruiting presentations, engage in conversations with students about your company culture, a “day in the life” at your company, career paths, and internship and full-time opportunities. Company Conversations can be “Open Signups” for any student to attend or “By Invitation” for only those students you reached out to directly. Hold Company Conversations on-campus in a project room, off-campus, or virtually.

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Company Conversations may be the right fit for you if:

• You are building your brand on campus. Even companies who have recruited at HBS for years may see 20 or fewer students at a company presentation. Company Conversations are a way to connect with students in a personal way without holding a presentation for a small group.
• You plan to hire one or two students from HBS. If your hiring is very targeted, make your recruiting targeted as well.
• Your organization has HBS alumni eager to connect with students 1:1 to talk about their roles and career paths.

Event Format

On-Campus: Organizations are provided on-campus project rooms for Company Conversations that seat 6-8 people. Catering is not permitted.

Off-Campus: Organizations are responsible for handling all off-campus logistics at a local venue or your office.

Virtual: Hold Company Conversations using your preferred video conference tool or by phone. Consider using the Zoom platform – a video conference tool all HBS students have accounts on.

Managing Sign Ups

Open Sign Ups: Make your Company Conversations open for any student to sign up. CPD will manage student sign ups and you can schedule timeslots in 20, 30, 45, or 60 minute increments. You can view your schedule in our recruiting platform.

By Invitation: Use the Resume Database to invite individual students to attend your Company Conversations. Companies will manage their own sign ups and schedule.

When preparing for your Company Conversations, keep in mind that students are looking for:

• A conversation, not an interview.
• Interaction with someone who is knowledgeable and passionate about the organization (if possible an HBS alum) and can speak to the organization's culture.
• Opportunities for international students and visa sponsorship. Keep in mind that 30% of HBS students are international.
• A perspective on a "day in the life." Students want to hear what they could expect from a role at your organization as well as the growth potential.
• Information about the interview process and what the organization is looking for in a candidate.

Industry Education

Industry Education Presentations are non-recruiting, educational in nature, and focused on a specific topic of interest to students. Have an interesting view on a current topic that concerns your industry? This is the place to share with students. Industry Education Presentations are held either on-campus in a classroom, off-campus at a local venue, or virtually.

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Industry Education may be the right fit for you if:

• You plan to recruit this year at HBS but want to connect with first year and second year students in a non-recruiting environment before your recruiting events later in the semester.
• You do not plan to recruit at HBS this year but want to build your brand on campus.
• You have a dynamic speaker who is excited to educate students about your industry. Previous topics have included State of the Energy Industry, Value Creation in Private Equity, Digital Growth in Consumer Goods, and External Innovation in Biopharma.

Event Format

On-Campus: Organizations are provided a classroom on campus. Presentations last 45 minutes. Catering is not permitted.

Off-Campus: Organizations are responsible for handling all off-campus logistics at a local venue or your office. Presentations will be approved for 45 minutes and are held in the evening.

Virtual: Post a link to your virtual presentation platform of choice so students can view your presentation from anywhere. Offer live Q&A through a chat box.

When preparing for your Industry Education presentation, keep the following feedback from students in mind:

• Remember that this is not recruiting. Industry Education is great for brand awareness but students are turned off when these events become recruiting presentations.
• Review what makes a great industry education presentation.
• Use slides sparingly.
• Allow plenty of time for student questions; make the presentation interactive and encourage student participation.
• Invite students to attend. Career & Professional Development will advertise your event, but we also encourage you to reach out to students via the student clubs.

Off-Campus Dinners and Receptions

Dinners and Receptions provide an additional opportunity to connect with HBS students about organizational culture, career opportunities, and the recruiting process. Hold a small group dinner or reception to get to know candidates and highlight what makes your organization unique. Open your event to all students to sign up or hold a private by invitation only event. Dinners and Receptions are held off-campus.

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Dinners and Receptions may be the right fit for you if:

• You have a strong brand on-campus.
• You are holding a recruiting event and want to follow up formal conversations with informal interactions as a way to build connections with students.
• You are located in the Boston area or will be traveling to Boston and have capacity to hold an evening event.
• You are looking for a way to further educate students about your organization’s opportunities and facilitate 1:1 connections between employees and students.

Event Format

Dinners: Hold a small dinner off-campus with a group of students and representatives from your organization to discuss your company culture, career paths, and available full-time or internship opportunities.

Receptions: Hold a reception off-campus to facilitate informal conversation between students and your organization. One to one conversations at receptions can be a very effective way to get to know students and build connections. Companies may choose receptions over a dinner to allow student flexibility to attend all or part of the event.

When preparing for your Dinners and Receptions, keep in mind students are looking for:

• Interaction with someone who is knowledgeable and passionate about the organization (if possible an HBS alum) and can speak to the organization's culture.
• Conversation about roles the organization is hiring for, the day-to-day of those roles, growth potential at the organization, and opportunities for international students.
• A perspective on a "day in the life." Students want to hear what they could expect from a role at your organization.
• Information about the interview process and what the organization is looking for in a candidate.
• Further education about your organization and how students can be successful members of your team.