Recruiting Principles and Guidelines

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have broad impact across the globe, including in the job market. Career services is available to help both students and employers navigate these extraordinary circumstances. 

Guidelines for Employment Offers and Acceptances

We strongly encourage the following best practices. We understand that firms need to know their hiring needs before the start of recruiting. Nevertheless, it is in both the firm’s and students’ best interest if students are granted ample time and written documentation to make informed decisions. Please feel free to contact Engineering Career Services to discuss any questions or concerns related to this policy.

  • All employers should extend offers in writing and be prepared to exhibit written offers to the appropriate career services office.
  • Engineering Career Services does not condone the use of exploding offers or any other practice that puts unreasonable pressure on students.
  • On occasion, students may request an extension beyond the dates given. Each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis and be accommodated if possible.
  • The possibility of negotiating decision deadlines should be clearly stated to students at the time the offer is made for both full-time and internship positions.
  • We endorse the following offer response timeline:
Offers resulting from: For: Cannot expire before:
Summer Programs, Internships and/or Co-ops Internship offers resulting from summer program or previous internship/co-op
-OR-
Full-time conversion offers resulting from internship or co-op employment
Offer should remain open for a minimum of three weeks after the start of the subsequent academic term or three weeks after the offer is made, whichever comes later
Fall Interviews
(June 1 -
December 31)
Full-time, internship,
or co-op offers
If offer is made prior to October 15: Offer should remain open until November 1 or later.
If offer is made after October 15:
Offer should remain open for a minimum of two weeks after the offer is made.
Spring Interviews
(January 1 -
May 31)
Full-time, internship,
or co-op offers
If offer is made prior to March 15: Offer should remain open until
April 1 or later.
If offer is made after March 15:
Offer should remain open for a minimum of two weeks after the offer is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We expect employment professionals to comply with EEO and Affirmative Action principles in recruiting activities, including the following items:

  • Recruiting, interviewing, and hiring individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, and providing reasonable accommodations upon request
  • Reviewing selection criteria for adverse impact based upon the student’s race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability
  • Avoiding use of inquiries that are considered unacceptable by EEO standards during the recruiting process
  • Developing sensitivity to, and awareness of, cultural differences and the diversity of the work force
  • Informing campus constituencies of special activities that have been developed to achieve the employer’s affirmative action goals
  • Investigating complaints forwarded by the career services office regarding EEO noncompliance and seeking resolution of such complaints

Title IX Compliance and Sexual Harassment

We expect employment professionals to comply with The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (“University”) Title IX policy in recruiting activities, including the following items:

  • The University is committed to providing a safe and welcoming campus environment free from discrimination based on sex, which includes sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, sexual harassment, dating violence, and domestic violence (collectively referred to as sexual misconduct).
  • The University prohibits and will not tolerate sexual misconduct because such behavior violates the University’s institutional values, adversely impacts the University’s community interest, and interferes with the University’s mission.
  • The University also prohibits retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports or discloses a violation of this policy, files a complaint, and/or otherwise participates in an investigation, proceeding, complaint, or hearing under this policy.
  • Once the University becomes aware of an incident of sexual misconduct, the University will promptly and effectively respond in a manner designed to eliminate the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

The University’s Title IX policy can be reviewed in its entirety at https://wecare.illinois.edu/policies/campus.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Campus wide Recruiting Policies

We endorse the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ principles for professional conduct and the policies of the University of Illinois Career Services Council. These principles provide a framework for professional relationships among colleges/universities, employing organizations, and candidates. These policies may be reviewed in their entirety at http://www.naceweb.org/principles and http://hireillini.com/recruitment-policies, respectively.  

We also hold students to high standards of professionalism throughout the recruiting process, and students agree to adhere to recruiting expectations when they claim their Handshake accounts, including a strict renege policy.  If you are concerned about a student at any point in the recruiting process, please contact Engineering Career Services.  

Work Authorization Requirements for International Students Recruiting Policies

In the U.S., authorization required for international candidates varies based on the candidate's current visa status, the expected tenure of employment, and whether the candidate is a student or graduate. Likewise, responsibilities for requirements of each authorization type vary, with some authorizations requiring little to no additional work on the part of the employer. Categories and responsibilities for the most common authorizations are included in the Domestic Recruiters' Guide to Hiring International University of Illinois Students. The information is accurate as of July 2020 and subject to change