Many of you will be participating in on-Grounds recruiting, and we wish you the best as you interview and make your career decisions. 

Here are a few important reminders:

1) All interviews take place in Bryant Hall (University Career Services) on the fourth floor unless you have signed up for an interview through our office (CommTRAK). You should report to Bryant Hall/fourth floor and register in plenty of time (approximately 10 minutes before your interview). 

2) Do your homework! Introduce yourself with a firm handshake, and be sure to obtain a business card or contact information in order to send a timely thank-you note (within 48 hours).

3) MOST IMPORTANTLY, remember that we have a strict no-show policy. You must sign up ONLY for those interviews for which you are interested and plan to attend! If you find for some reason you must cancel, you are REQUIRED to cancel with the company and with UCS within three FULL BUSINESS days. For example, if you have a scheduled interview on a MONDAY, you must contact the employer and UCS before the previous WEDNESDAY. If you are reported as a no-show, you will be made inactive on CavLink. Please take the process seriously; this is a critical issue. We want to ensure that our employers are seeing those students who are truly interested in the position. Being a no-show would not only be a poor reflection on you, but on McIntire as a whole. Many employers cut schools due to poor interview turnout. Please don't jeopardize this for your peers. The policy states that you must notify the employer (via e-mail or phone) if you are canceling your interview. If you have an emergency at the last minute, please notify us, and we can try to help you get in touch with the employer. Deciding the night before your interview that you are too tired or now uninterested in the position is NOT a valid excuse.

4) Employers may invite you for second-round interviews that could interfere with class schedules and/or other interviews. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED to work with them and determine a date/time that is most convenient for both parties. If you get pressure to skip a class or another interview, please contact us for guidance.

5) After you accept an internship offer from an employer, you are asked to contact Commerce Career Services immediately. This information helps us as we continue to market students to recruiters. It helps us to have an accurate picture of the number of students pursuing internships. Please keep in mind that you should NOT continue to interview with other employers after accepting an offer. 

6) Keep in mind that internship options in many industries are available later in the semester, or they require Web-based applications instead of face-to-face interviews. Do not get discouraged if you don’t see an employer or summer opportunity on CavLink/CommTRAK. Feel free to meet with one of our counselors to establish a strategy that makes the most sense for you and your career field of interest.

If you have questions or concerns about any of these reminders, please do not hesitate to contact me, or stop by CCS. I know the Class of 2013 will be successful and productive, and we look forward to working with you.

Tom