University of Arizona

Frequently, recruiters ask “How can I maximize my recruiting efforts?” or “What can I do to be successful on the UA campus?” This section should help guide you through the recruiting process and, hopefully, answer your questions. 

Getting Started - Prior to your campus interviews

• Start early. Plan 4-6 months in advance and schedule your campus dates as early as possible.
• Arrange your interview dates to allow additional time to meet with other key campus contacts such as academic department staff, student groups, faculty, or Career Services personnel.
• Make interview schedule changes (if necessary) prior to your arrival on-campus.
• Check your travel schedule to be certain it does not conflict with any of your campus interview times.
• Arrange to have an information session the night before your interviews.
• Identify/order materials you may want to bring for your information session, or to hand out during the interview.
• Communicate with the Career Services staff and determine the status of your schedules prior to your arrival at our campus.
• Arrange to receive copies of your interview schedules.
• View and copy online campus maps.
• Decide on your attire for your information sessions and interviews. Please note: Career Services requires that recruiters dress at least business casual and preferably business professional for interviews. 

Day of interviews 

• Remember your campus parking/building maps.
• Plan extra time since parking and construction projects can cause delays.
• Recruiters are expected to stay the entire day for scheduled interviews, if an emergency should arise and you must depart early, please communicate this to the Career Services staff. Recruiters are expected to call students and explain interview cancellations and arrange a new interview date. (ie; phone interviews, CareerCam, etc.)
• Familiarize yourself with the Career Services office and employer services - this information is included in your schedule folder.
• Interviews begin at 8:30am unless you have made different arrangements The Career Services office opens at 8:00am.
• Interviews are scheduled to end by 5:00pm. If you need additional time, arrangements must be made prior to the end of the day.
• Be sure to turn off cell phones during interviews.
• If you are off schedule, let the Career Services staff know so that students can be informed when they arrive.
• Inform students as to when they can expect to hear from you following their interview.
• At the end of the day, please complete the student feed back form and employer satisfaction survey. 

After interviewing 

• Follow-up with students as promised.
• Arrange for second interviews or site visits.
• Inform students and Career Services if your selection/hiring process has changed or is delayed.
• Extend offers to candidates as soon as possible.
• Submit offer placement data to Career Services staff. 

Make the Connection! 

There are various ways to connect to students and alumni. Promoting your organization and the positions you are recruiting for is key to the success of your campus visit. The most popular and effective ways are:

• Student professional organizations. Do presentations or workshops to targeted groups of students.
• Attend career fairs. Consistent participation in campus career fairs is an excellent way to provide exposure for your organization, as well as upcoming information sessions and campus interviews.
• Target academic classes. Plan early to connect with key department staff who can arrange for you to speak to academic classes.
• Minority organizations.
• Department Listserv messages. This is an effective way to promote your campus visit or company information. Contact academic departments for the distribution of listserv messages.
• Information sessions. An excellent way prior to you campus interviews to promote your company and interview schedules. This is also the last opportunity to fill unfilled interview slots prior to your interviews.
• Advertising on Wildcat JobLink is an excellent way to reach the UA campus and alumni. Plus it’s free!
• Arrange with Career Services to be sponsored on the UA mall. This high traffic area is a great way to connect with students.
• Advertise in the Daily Wildcat Newspaper. Strong circulation and free distribution around campus makes this a great vehicle to get your name out to UA students.
• Fieldtrip to employers. 

Professional Conduct 

Professional conduct is extremely important to the recruiting process. A recruiter, who acts inappropriately or behaves unprofessionally, can damage an organizations image. Word of mouth can have a major effect on interview scheduling activity, potentially resulting in cancellations.

When interviewing on the University of Arizona campus, recruiters professional and ethical behavior is required. Recruiters are also required to maintain equal employment opportunity (EEO) compliance and follow affirmative action principles in recruiting activity. We ask that recruiters refer to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles for Professional Conduct, carefully review and use the principles to guide your recruiting activity. 

Successful Information Sessions

 Information sessions should complement and enhance the campus interview. Typically held the night before interviews, information sessions provide an excellent opportunity to promote your organization and positions you are recruiting for. The focus should be company information and interaction with students. Information sessions should include: 

• A professional power point or video presentation.
• Enthusiastic and professional presenters.
• A well-planned presentation that makes good use of the time.
• Useful information about the organization that students need to know.
• Interaction between the recruiter and students. Encourage questions.
• A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
• Refreshments! Students always enjoy this.
• Company give-a-ways. Promotional items are always a big hit.
• A start and end time that stays within the established schedule. The ideal time frame is 5:00pm to 7:00pm. 

Participating in Career Fairs 

Career fairs are an excellent way to informally interact with students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Career fairs allow you to showcase your organization and help promote your campus interviews. Careful planning is essential to make your participation in a career fair a success. Points to consider: 

Prior to the career fair 

• Make your reservations early!
• Arrange travel so that your organization is represented for the full time of the career fair. Leaving early is not recommended.
• Identify and schedule personnel that will assist with the event.
• Send staff that truly enjoys this type of an event and wants to participate. Send knowledgeable and outgoing personalities that represent your organization in a positive way.
• If you are sending staff from the local area, be sure to forward all event information such as the registration confirmation, directions, parking map, items to bring, etc.
• Invite UA alumni to help staff your table.
• Order company promotional material or “giveaways”. These items are very popular with students and they create a lot of excitement.
• Consider having a drawing for special (student) prize.
• Send display and promotional materials early. Allow at least 10 to 14 days for shipping
• Prepare return paperwork for items to be shipped after the event.

The day of the career fair 

• Dress per your organizations requirement for such events. Dress code varies from casual to professional. Typically, the dress code consists of polo style shirts and khaki pants. Use discretion and consider your organization when establishing your dress code.
• Arrive early. Allow enough time for set-up and breakfast.
• If you have alumni staff with you, be sure they are identified as such. Career Services has alumni ribbons. Be sure to ask for some.
• We suggest you stand in front of the table to greet students. They are less likely to approach if you are sitting behind a table.
• Arrange lunch coverage for your table. Avoid leaving your table empty if possible. At the very least, post a sign indicating your time of return.
• Use the career fair to promote your upcoming information session and interview dates. Hand out flyers announcing this information.
• If you have prearranged with Career Services to conduct interviews immediately following the career fair, be sure to have interview sign up sheets available for candidates and interview location information.
• Please stay the entire time of a career fair. An empty table sends a negative message to job seekers.