About the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) program

What does "on-campus interviewing" mean?

• The program name refers to a process through which employers can travel to campus to interview students for internships and post-graduation jobs.
  • "On-campus" refers to the location of the interview, not the location of the job.
  • Employers would incur the expense of traveling to campus in order to meet with students in person.
  • Students would have the convenience of having an interview in Smith Career Center.
  • Each employer could schedule an interview date, choosing from dates spanning usually eight weeks of fall semester, and seven weeks of spring semester. 
• On-campus interviews are typically a screening interview, with a next step being an interview on-site at the employer's location. 
• The pandemic caused elimination of in-person contact and travel for some time, and led to a shift to virtual interviewing.
  • During 2021-2022, we began to see some return of employers travelling to campus for recruiting events and interviewing.
  • Regardless of whether interviews are in person or virtual, the job market is robust, with ample opportunities for current students and new graduates.
  • Most employers have extensively used virtual interviewing, virtual information sessions, and virtual career fairs, to connect with students.
  • While virtual methods are not perfect, and while in-person contact is very valuable, most employers have seen positive benefits of virtual recruiting, including expanding their ability to reach many more students, to diversify their recruiting and opportunities, and to reach more students at lower cost. Not every employer has a robust travel budget for recruiting.
• "On-campus interviewing" refers to interviews (virtual or in-person) that are scheduled through Handshake:
  • Career and Professional Development facilitates these pre-scheduled interviews between students and employers.
  • This provides convenience of access and scheduling, for both students and employers.
  • Career and Professional Development assists employers with the process of scheduling and planning recruiting strategies and timing to help employers meet their goals and connect with students.
  • Employers post jobs, usually with a planned interview date; students apply; employers select students to interview; and students sign up for interview times in Handshake.
• Students who want opportunities to interview should apply for jobs and internships through Handshake.

• "On-campus" refers to the location of the interview, not a limit on the location of the jobs.
• Employers are located throughout the United States, with many based in the mid-Atlantic or southeast regions of the U.S., and urban regions of Virginia. They include for-profit businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
• Some employers are local to the New River Valley.
• Virginia Tech offices with internships for current students and post-graduation jobs for graduating students may also post jobs. 

• Career fairs are usually one- or two-day events with brief conversations or chats between students and employers; some include follow-up scheduled interviews for all or part of a day. Of course, some career fairs are fully or partially virtual.
• Some employers participate in career fairs to help promote student interest in their organization. They might schedule their own interviews with students, or they might schedule their interviews through the OCI process.
• Career fair dates are set by the academic college or department that hosts the career fair. The OCI program enables each employer to request their interview day, which could happen over a span of 80 days during the academic year.

• Through OCI, 250-300 employers visited campus in each of the recent past years to interview students for post-grad jobs, internships and co-ops.
• See On-Campus Interviewing Program activity by year for employer and student participation by college.

• As stated above, a limited number of employers travelled to campus during the 2021-2022 academic year. 
• Most interviews were held virtually, with both student and employer at their home/office locations. Virtual interviewing has helped employers reach more students. Not every employer has a robust travel budget for recruiting.
• As public safety increases, you can expect to see more employers traveling to campus to conduct interviews in person.
• Most employers will continue to blend in some forms of virtual interviewing, including as a step before an in-person interview, because it helps expand opportunities for employers and students to connect.

• Yes, students who need a quiet space for a virtual interview may request to use an interview room in Smith Career Center.
• Requests must be made at least one business day in advance.
• Rooms cannot be provided for the same day that a request is made. Interviews are scheduled in advance, so the request can be made in advance.
• To request a room, contact the employer relations staff in Career and Professional Development. 

Before participating in OCI, students and employers should read and understand:

• Position Statement about Campus Recruiting. This includes expectations of both students and employers.
• This also fully explains that students should never sign up for an interview for practice. This is unethical.
• It is also unethical to no-show for a scheduled interview. Read: Cancellation and Missed Interview Policy.

• Recent grads might find jobs of interest. Most employers who recruit through college campuses are seeking recent or upcoming graduates. 
• For graduates with more experience, it is probably more practical to view employers' websites to seek opportunities for more experienced job candidates.

• Usually it will be specified by each employer if they would like a cover letter. 
• If you do submit a cover letter, make sure it is customized to that employer and that job. 
• If nothing is stated about a cover letter, then you don't need one to apply to that specific job. Do know that cover letters can be an asset in your job search if written well and customized, because it's more evidence of how you communicate. And in a cover letter you can articulate your interest in the employer (which is not what a resume does).
• Learn more about writing cover letters.

• There is no secret.
• Employers look for a professional and pleasant demeanor, appropriate attire and grooming, honesty, a positive attitude, and an ability to articulate your skills and why you would like to work for the organization giving you the interview. 
• Employers absolutely expect candidates to "do your homework," which means researching the organization in advance of the interview. 
• If you seem like you don't have a genuine interest in, or knowledge of, the organization, the interviewer can view you as not being a good fit for their organization and job, although you may have excellent qualifications for a different job and organziation. 
• Employers are looking for a good fit, or match, between you and the job and the organization. A good simple guideline is know yourself, know the job, and show the fit.
• See more about interviewing skills.