On-Campus Interviewing

For six weeks every fall and spring, the Student Employment and Placement Assistance (SEPA) office hosts employers who wish to recruit Pitt students through interviews held in the Career Development office in the William Pitt Union. Since there are certain deadlines associated with on-campus interviewing, it is important to register with SEPA early in the semester so that you may search for opportunities. These are not “practice” interviews – they are real interviews with real companies for full-time positions and internships. Treating them without due consideration reflects poorly on you, and the University. If you would like to practice your interviewing skills, contact Career development to arrange a mock interview.

How to Sign Up for an Interview
How to Prepare for an Interview
Cancellation and No Show Policy

SPRING 2008 INTERVIEWING DATES AND DEADLINES:

WEEK OF INTERVIEWS	STUDENT DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR JOB
WEEK 1 January 28 - February 1	January 14, 2008
WEEK 2 February 4 – 8	January 21, 2008
WEEK 3 February 11 – 15	January 28, 2008
WEEK 4 February 18 – 22	February 05, 2008
WEEK 5 February 25 – 29	February 12, 2008
WEEK 6 March 3 – 7	February 19, 2008
WEEK 7 March 17 – 19	March 4, 2008

Please note: The University of Pittsburgh has Spring Break the week of March 10.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR AN INTERVIEW

* Eligibility — All undergrads are eligible for OCI. Graduating seniors are eligible for two consecutive semesters under the following guidelines:

April (Spring ) Graduates	Two semesters (fall and spring) prior to graduation
August Graduates	Semester prior to graduation, semester after graduation
December Graduates	Semester prior to graduation, semester after graduation

* Alumni are not eligible for OCI, unless they meet the above requirements

There are four basic steps in the On-Campus Interviewing process:

1. Access FutureLinks
2. Submit Your Resume to Apply for Interviews
3. Schedule an Interview
4. Interview

Step 1: Access FutureLinks

Access FutureLinks. Complete or update your entire "Profile" section. Upload your resume in the "Documents" section.

Step 2: Submit Your Resume to Apply for Interviews

Search FutureLinks for jobs and internships with upcoming interview schedules. On the right-hand side of your homepage, select “With interview schedules” under the heading “See opportunities.” Select a job by clicking on its title, and review the qualifications to see if you can apply (GPA, major, etc.). If you qualify, select “Apply” at the bottom of the page. The employer is required to make a decision regarding your application at least two weeks prior to the interview date, at which point you will be notified by e-mail of his or her decision (accepted, declined, or alternate).

NOTE: If you have applied for an opportunity and have been accepted to interview by the employer, but decide you are no longer interested, you must "decline" the interview in FutureLinks in the "Applications" section.

Step 3: Schedule an Interview

You must sign up for interviews online in the "Applications" section of FutureLinks. The e-mail message you receive that informs you that you have been selected to interview announces the date by which you must sign up for an interview time slot, typically one week prior to the interview date. If you are chosen as an alternate, you may try signing up 48 hours after the schedule opens, if there are slots available.

A Note about Information Sessions/Pre-Interview Meetings:

Many companies will hold meetings the week of or night before they interview. We are no longer advertising this through FutureLinks. Instead, you will be notified by either the employer or our office if the company you are interviewing for is having a session. Typically these sessions are for the students being interviewed, but some companies will open them up to anyone who is interested. Open sessions will be advertised on careers.pitt.edu. Pre-interview meetings are MANDATORY for those students who are interviewing with the company, and if you can’t attend you should notify the contact listed in FutureLinks. Business casual is always the preferred dress.

Step 4: Interview

All interviews are held in the Career Services Interview Suites, 240 William Pitt Union, Oakland Campus. Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your interview, and bring a copy of your resume. Prior to your interview, become informed about the employer. Consult the "Employer" section of FutureLinks to see if a website is listed. See “How to prepare for an interview” below for a list of tasks that will help you prepare for your interview.

How to Prepare for an Interview

Have you completed the following steps for a successful interview?

- Complete a mock interview
- Research the company
- Attend the information session/pre-interview meeting (when applicable)
- Utilize the Pitt Career Network to identify Pitt Alumni employed by the company

Cancellation and No-Show Policy

If you cancel an interview within 48 hours or you are a no-show, your OCI privileges will be suspended pending a review of circumstances (with the appropriate documentation). An apology letter to the recruiter must be sent within 72 hours from interview date. A copy of the letter must also be sent to the Employer Services Assistant at Career Services. Failure to send a letter of apology or an unsatisfactory outcome of the review will result in continued suspension from OCI privileges. Two no-shows/late cancellations will disqualify a candidate from participating in OCI for the current and following semester.