Standards of Conduct

MBA Recruiting Standards of Conduct, 2026–2027

Recruiting standards as of June 11, 2026.

Ensuring a Level Playing Field

HBS Career & Professional Development (CPD) appreciates the effort organizations put into recruiting at HBS and has developed the following recruiting standards of conduct to provide the foundation for a fair and ethical recruiting process. By using the HBS recruiting platform 12twenty to post jobs, host events, or access resume databases, you are considered a recruiting partner and are asked to uphold these standards. Deviations from these standards may be noted on 12twenty to keep students informed.

For the Class of 2027 Second-Year Students

Organizations are asked to keep job offers open for a minimum of two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer.

For the Class of 2028 First-Year Students

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Direct outreach and event advertising may begin.

Monday, October 5, 2026

Recruiting events may begin.

Tuesday, January 5, 2027

Organizations may begin interviewing students. Interviews for international positions may begin on Monday, December 21, 2026.

Friday, February 5, 2027

Organizations are asked to keep job offers open until this date or a minimum of two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer, whichever date is later.

HBS Resume Databases

Organizations may only use the HBS Resume Databases for targeted outreach; not to email an entire class of students.

Access Resumes

Events & Interviews

  1. Events, regardless of sponsor (including events for clubs and sections), must be approved by CPD.

  2. To maintain focus on the academic mission of the School, events and interviews must be scheduled around student class time.

  3. Organizations with CPD-assigned interview dates are not required to offer date flexibility for first-round interviews.

  4. First-round in-person interviews held January 5-7, 2027 must take place in the Boston area.

  5. Second-round interviews held January 5-15, 2027 must not conflict with a student’s first-round interview commitments.

  6. Organizations are encouraged to inform students if they are no longer being considered in the interview process.

Hosting an Event

Conducting Interviews

Job Offers

  1. Organizations may offer incentives to students to accept offers early. The base offer (base salary, guaranteed compensation, job function, and location) is expected to remain open until the decision dates noted above. For former full-time employees (including sponsored students), students and organizations may determine a mutually agreeable decision date.

  2. 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.

  3. Withdrawing job offers, whether verbal or written, violates professional standards and HBS recruiting standards of conduct. If you are considering retracting an offer for any reason, please contact CPD immediately.

HBS Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying Policy

Harvard Business School makes its facilities and resources available to recruiting organizations whose practices are consistent with the HBS Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying Policy.

HBS Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying Policy

Employer Certification Statements

Sanctions & Restricted Parties

The organization is not listed on, and is not owned or controlled by, any individual or entity included on US government sanctions or restricted party lists, including those administered by the US Department of the Treasury (OFAC), the US Department of Commerce (BIS), or the US Department of State.

Embargoed Countries or Regions

The organization is not based in, organized under the laws of, or operating from any US-embargoed or comprehensively sanctioned country or region, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea, Donetsk, or Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

Export Controls & Controlled Technical Information

The organization’s engagement with students and/or alumni does not involve access to, use of, or work on export-controlled technical data, software, or technology subject to US export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This job does not require Harvard Business School to provide any restricted, controlled, licensed, or export-controlled services, information, or technical assistance.

Institutional Rights

Harvard Business School reserves the right to (1) decline or remove any job posting or event request, and (2) suspend or revoke access to resumes or the 12twenty platform if compliance or regulatory concerns are identified.

Student Recruiting Standards of Conduct

CPD has created and implemented a set of standards for student behavior throughout the recruiting process. These standards include procedures for late interview cancellations, no-shows, reneging on accepted offers, and other violations of professional standards. Please refer to the Student Recruiting Standards of Conduct (available summer 2026) for more information.

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 Database. However, the Resume Database is intended for the use of recruiters only; it is not available to every requester outside the School. FERPA applies to Resume Database users also.

Harvard Business School reserves the right to modify its recruiting standards of conduct throughout the year.