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Start Here: On-Campus Recruiting & Resume Submissions

Introduction:

On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) is the process by which employers recruit Johns Hopkins students for internships and full-time job opportunities. Through the OCR program, employers collect resumes and visit campus to conduct interviews or hold information sessions to help you learn about their organizations. They may also attend on-campus career fairs or career fairs held by one of the university consortia to which the Career Center belongs.

In many ways, OCR is no different from any other job or internship search tool: you submit your resume to be evaluated by the employer and the employer makes decisions about whom to interview and whom to hire. Employers often recruit at many universities. But the On-Campus Recruiting program is also unique. It allows you to interact with many employers without leaving campus, and employers commit significant resources to visit campus for the opportunity to meet you and your fellow JHU students.

Additionally, OCR is a process requiring particular attention to details. Advanced preparation, professionalism and organization are critical for success. (It’s no accident that these are also the qualities that will help you succeed at your first internship or job.)

Your Overall Search:

OCR can be every bit as demanding as other ways of applying for jobs and internships and can be very competitive. As a result: (1) students should plan on dedicating significant amounts of time to participating in OCR and (2) students should not limit their job or internship search methods to OCR alone.

Many employers that do not visit campus are still very interested in you and your fellow students! Employers use a variety of means to reach students. And the fact is, employers in many fields do not visit campus at all to recruit candidates. Employers that make heavy use of university recruiting programs tend to be large organizations that regulary hire several entry-level applicants each year. They also tend to be part of fields such as engineering, financial services, consulting, federal government and nationwide non-profits.

So remember to use a wide range of resources during your job or internship search. On-Campus Recruiting alone is a poor substitute for a broader job search.

Who is Eligible?

All students of full-time programs within the School of Arts & Sciences and the School Engineering may participate in On-Campus Recruiting. (Also alumni less than two years out can participate.) Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.

Your J-Connect Account:

Participating in On-Campus Recruiting requires attention to details. Your account in J-Connect, the Career Center’s online career system, will make the process easier for you. This section will show you how to get an ac­count as well as how to use the features of your account that you will need for OCR.

The Basic OCR Process:

1. Create a J-Connect account
2. Submit Resume: Drop your resume to employers that interest you via your J-Connect account."
3. Information Session: Go to the employer's on-campus information session, if there is one. Some are held prior to the resume deadline; others are held the night before interviews. Be sure to dress in professional attire.
4. Sign Up for Interview: If you are selected for an interview, you will get an email from the Career Center and possibly the employer. Any status (declined, alternate, preselect) will be reflected also in your J-Connect account as soon as the employer lets the Career Center know. If you were selected, sign up for an interview time slot through your J-Connect account. There are set time periods when preselects and alternates are allowed to sign up online.
5. Interview: Dress professionally, arrive about 10-15 minutes early, and make sure you are well prepared. Ask for the interviewer's card and write a thank-you note.
6. Next: The employer will communicate with you directly after the interview. A second round of interviews at the employer's site is common.

OCR Agreement:

Be sure to carefully read the OCR Agreement, which can be found in the first tab of your J-Connect profile. This agreement outlines the policies and procedures of the OCR process, and only students who have read and agreed to these policies can participate. Once you have read it, be sure to check the box indicating that you have understood the agreement.

Tips…

• Fill out your J-Connect profile as completely as possible and provide as much information about yourself and your interests as you can.
• Make sure that you enter your email address completely and correctly. Your email address serves as your username for your account. This is also how the Career Center and employ­ers will contact you with important information.
• Be sure to enter your GPA to avoid complications when dropping resumes.
• You can change your password in the Password/Preferences tab.
• You can update or change your profile at any time from home page (the first page you see when you log into your J-Connect account).

Learn more in the On-Campus Recruiting Handout (pdf)