The ’68 Center at Williams maintains a robust on-campus recruiting program to connect students to internships and full-time post graduate jobs. This program is open to all currently enrolled students, but we do require that you attend a Recruiting 101 workshop to hear about the nuts and bolts of the program in order to participate. In the meantime, we have put together a few of our most frequently asked questions:
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(Note: Alums prior to the class of ’14 will need to create an account.)
How important are employer information sessions?
Attending an employer information session has many benefits. Often Williams alums attend these events and are available before and after the presentation to share their insights. These are an excellent opportunity to educate yourself about the industry and learn more about the different cultures of organizations in your field of interest. Meeting employer representatives at an information session allows you to both gain confidence talking to people and to gather important information in a lower stress environment than an actual interview situation. First hand information allows you to get a clearer picture of what happens on the job beyond the understanding provided through your own research.
Remember, employers perceive “researching the company” as a critical factor in evaluating a potential candidate because it reflects your genuine interest and savvy.
Do’s:
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early if possible to beat the sign in crowd.
- Introduce yourself with enthusiasm to all the presenters with a firm handshake, eye contact and a smile.
- Remember not to skip the person who is fixing the catering order, managing the sign-ups or handing you the trinket or information packet. This person may be an alum, the recruiting manager, or the most senior person at the event!
- Dress business professional. What to wear: Examples of professional clothing include nice slacks with a belt in good condition, a collared shirt, a cardigan or pullover sweater and/or blazer, a knee-length skirt, and dress shoes. If you have a professional-looking suit you can wear it, though a full suit is generally not required. What Not to Wear: Classroom casual, athletic gear, jeans or T-shirts, shorts or tanks tops, tight or baggy clothes, low-cut or low-rise, hats or sunglasses, sneakers, boots, flip flops, anything wrinkled, and wet hair. We realize some of you are coming right from practice and can’t avoid this last one, so remember it can be a great conversation starter.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have a scheduled interview with an employer, and they have an information session or special dinner the night prior, it is imperative that you make every effort to attend. They may give you needed information to help you with your upcoming interview. We understand that life happens and you may not be able to attend, and if that is the case please email the employer and let them know.
What is the difference between and open schedule and a pre-select schedule?
An open schedule simply means that the interview slots are open to anyone who qualifies for the position. A pre-select schedule means that the employer is collecting resumes and will then decide which candidates they want to interview. If you are selected for a pre-select slot, you should receive an email letting you know the time and date when you can begin signing up for an interview time. However, we also encourage you to keep a careful watch over the ‘my interviews’ tab in the Route 2 system. You should also see an announcement on your homepage alerting you that you have been invited to interview.
What should I wear for interviews?
It is always important to make a great first impression during an interview. Check out our interview guide to learn more about appropriate interview attire.
How can I stand out as a candidate?
One critical way to show your continued interest in an opportunity is to have excellent follow-up and a quick response time to any communication, whether it be a phone call or email to the employer. Remember these are professionals who are often trying to manage their recruiting responsibilities along with their daily job responsibilities. We have heard from employers that students have lost opportunities because they have failed to follow-up in a timely manner.
An employer wants to schedule a telephone interview with me, how do I proceed?
We encourage you to find a quiet space with no distractions. If it is a quiet time in the ’68 Center we may have a space for you. If you are taking the call on your cell phone, test out the space to make sure you have a clear connection. It is important to be organized for the call. Have: paper and a pen to take notes, your resume for quick reference or to jog your memory, and prepared and thoughtful questions to ask the employer. Tone of voice is a key factor in your phone presentation. Remember that a smile can always be heard on the other end of the line.
What is the cancellation policy for a scheduled interview on campus?
If you need to cancel an interview, we require that you notify the employer and the ’68 Center at least 48 hours in advance so that we have time to fill your slot. Please remember that canceling at the last minute reflects poorly on you as a candidate and takes away an interview slot from another candidate.
Also, the employer may ask you for your reason for canceling the interview. If you are simply having a change of heart about the opportunity with the company, keep in mind that in every interview situation you can make a connection or learn something new about yourself, your interview style, or your field of interest.
The employers I’m interested in are not coming to campus. Why?
The majority of employers in the United States hire on a just in time basis, meaning that they might have one spot to fill and they need to fill it quickly. Because of this, the types of employers that come to campus to interview are limited to those that have funds to travel to Williams and hire in bulk. They range from education and some larger non-profits to banking and consulting. It is important to keep an eye on the recruiting schedule though as we do get companies that don’t fall into those main categories, such as Google or Suffolk Construction.