We have created policies for employers utilizing our recruiting services, including participation at career fairs, information sessions, Handshake, and other services. These policies are not all-inclusive; they are intended to serve as a framework within which the career planning, placement, and recruitment processes should function, and as a foundation upon which professionalism can be promoted. It is imperative that all parties involved in the recruitment process become fully aware and informed of their responsibilities and of the policies that we have set forth.
By acting in accordance with these policies and guidelines, individuals and organizations can help Career Services maintain a professional, fair and successful recruiting environment for all parties concerned. Your use of both our services and the Handshake platform constitutes your binding agreement to the following policies.
Job Offer Policies
UCSB Career Services strives to support employers with their recruiting efforts and assist our students in making informed career decisions. Thus, we expect that all employers abide by the following offer policy which allows students sufficient time to carefully consider employment options and act in accordance with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles of Professional Conduct which state, “Employment professionals will refrain from any practice that improperly influences and affects job acceptance. Such practices may include undue time pressure for acceptance of employment offers and encouragement of revocation of another employment offer.” Career Services understands that the landscape of recruitment is very competitive, especially when searching for the best talent. We have established these guidelines to provide students and employers a fair, transparent and up-to-date framework for managing the offer phase of the recruitment process.
Timing for Offers and Decisions
Students need time to make informed decisions when comparing and responding to offers. To facilitate this process, please provide students with a MINIMUM of two weeks from the date of the written offer, but preferably longer, to accept or decline. It's important to remember that UCSB operates on a quarter system, and the Fall quarter does not begin until late September. As a result, for full-time offers extended to previous summer interns, we suggest you give students until November 1st to decide. Accordingly, if you are recruiting summer interns, we suggest you give students until at least November 1st to decide. Sometimes, students may ask for extensions beyond this deadline; we encourage you to accommodate their requests whenever possible.
Time-Sensitive Offers/Excessive Pressure
A time-sensitive offer is any offer that does not conform to the abovementioned timetables. Employers should not make offers or pressure students to accept “early” offers, including those requiring a quick response time. They should not attach incentives involving diminishing bonuses, reduced options for location preferences, etc. Further, asking a student to decide on the spot is also inappropriate.
Time-sensitive offers put undue pressure on students to make decisions before completing the interview process and do not give them ample time to weigh employment options and make informed decisions. We discourage students from making rushed decisions about offers for which they cannot fully abide. Such hasty decisions create discord and distress for all parties involved.
Full Disclosure
All offer letters must include a start date. Candidates interviewing with employers on campus expect to start work after graduation and by mid-September.
Rescinding Employment Offers
We strongly encourage employers to consider every alternative before revoking an offer of employment. NACE recommends that employers who must revoke a commitment demonstrate they have done everything possible to avoid rescinding offers and then consider alternatives. Before rescinding an offer, please notify our office to explore alternatives and share relevant circumstances. We also stress to every UCSB student who participates in the On-Campus Interview program that rejecting an offer after having previously accepted one--for any reason--is a serious recruiting violation and is subject to significant repercussions such as losing future On-Campus Interview program and Handshake privileges. Additionally, we request that they cease participation in interviewing once an offer has been accepted and that they notify any employers with whom they are still in discussion that they have accepted an offer and are formally withdrawing any open applications.
