Recruiting Guidelines

Recruiters who schedule events and/or interviews through Amherst College’s Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning are strongly encouraged to read, reference, and abide by the policies below.

As a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the Loeb Center adheres to the NACE Principles for Career Services and Employment Professionals. Because of this, recruiters who partner with us are also expected to review and follow all NACE Principles.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

Amherst College does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other characteristic or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Amherst College complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Inquiries should be addressed to the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000. Find information about Title IX.

The College’s Title IX Coordinator is Laurie Frankl, 105 E Converse Hall, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, 413-542-5707, Amherst.edu/offices/title-ix.

Excluded Practices

Amherst College’s Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning may choose not to sponsor recruiting activities for opportunities if:

  • The opportunity involves on-campus solicitation, posting of materials, or sale of products or services.
  • Compensation is exclusively commission or fees/percentage of sales from others under their sponsorship in the organization.
  • The organization is sponsoring an individual to establish their own business for the purpose of selling products or services, and/or recruiting other individuals to establish their own businesses.
  • The organization requires an initial payment or investment, or account balance or similar fiscal requirements, with the organization itself serving as an umbrella or parent corporation. The initial investment may include, but is not limited to: requirement to attend unpaid orientation or training sessions; direct payment of a fixed fee; payment to attend orientation or training sessions; and/or the purchase, leasing, or renting of a starter kit, sales kit, or presentation supplies.
  • The work assignment negatively affects student academic progress or encourages students to discontinue their studies.
  • The employer fails, for any reason, to provide necessary information needed to post a job vacancy or internship opportunity (e.g., job description, qualifications, application instructions).
  • Upon request, the employer is unable or unwilling to provide written documentation of registration with a Better Business Bureau.

Third-Party Recruiters

The Loeb Center asks third-party recruiters to review and follow the Principles for Third-Party Recruiters set forth by NACE.

Our Center may sponsor third party recruiting activities if the third-party agency agrees to:

  • Reveal the identity of the employer being represented and the nature of the relationship between the agency and the employer, and permit career services to verify this information by contacting the client. If the Loeb Center has an existing relationship with the client, we will inform the third party agency and decline to post the position.
  • Identify, on all announcements, the name of the employer being represented.
  • If requested, provide a position description for valid openings.
  • In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), release candidate information only with the written permission of the employment candidate and only to the identified employer.
  • Not charge any fee to the candidate

CANNABIS INDUSTRY

The Loeb Center is cognizant of this growing industry and the interest in cultivating talent in the cannabis sector. If you would like to post a cannabis-related job/internship opportunity with us or you would like to host a recruitment event with us, we ask that you please note the following and include the following disclaimer to your Handshake post and/or event description as applicable. 

Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level. Even though Massachusetts has decriminalized cannabis, its use, distribution, and possession on campus remains illegal and is a violation of our community standards.

DISCLAIMER

The Loeb Center reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deny any employer or recruiter access to services offered.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULING

The Loeb Center does not permit employers to schedule interviews during reading or final exam periods. Employers offering second-round interviews should provide at least two dates—without negative consequence to the candidacy of the applicant—so that candidates do not miss exams or previously scheduled first-round interviews.

EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVES

Alumni/ae interviewers must have graduated at least two years prior to the class they are interviewing in order to avoid the perception of bias.  Recruiters should be trained in professional interviewing standards and protocols and exhibit professionalism at all times. We require that recruiters refrain from what might be interpreted as offensive or inappropriate behavior. Alumni and other individuals representing an employer are acting in an “official capacity” for their organization when recruiting.

ALCOHOL

Use of alcohol by candidates as part of the recruitment process, on- or off-campus, is strictly prohibited.

TESTING

All tests used as part of the hiring process must be a valid measure of employability and must be compliant with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) standards, and testing procedures must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Information on testing practices should be shared with the Loeb Center. Employer partners must notify students of testing at least two full days in advance, so that students who require accommodations may make arrangements.

JOB OFFER POLICY

The Loeb Center believes that providing sufficient time for students to evaluate the employment opportunities offered to them allows them to make the wisest decisions for all concerned, creating a positive experience for candidates and employers, and ultimately reducing renege and attrition rates. Job offer processes can affect your brand on campus.

With that in mind, we strongly encourage the following:

  • Former Summer Interns: Students who are offered a full-time position (or second internship) after completing an internship should have until November 1 or two weeks after receiving the written offer, whichever is later, to accept or decline. This allows students time to participate in fall on-campus recruiting if they so choose.
  • Fall Recruiting: Students who are offered full-time or internship positions during the fall semester should have until November 1 or at least two weeks from receipt of the written offer, whichever is later, to accept/decline.
  • Spring Recruiting: Students who are offered full-time or internship positions during the spring semester should have at least two weeks from receipt of the written offer to accept/decline.

EXPLODING OFFERS

We strongly encourage employers to avoid any practices that may improperly influence or hasten a student’s decision, including the use of bonuses or other variance in compensation, placement within the organization, or exploding offers. We define an exploding offer as any offer that does not adhere to our recommendations as stated above and/or that has special incentives attached for early acceptance, including signing bonuses.

RESCINDED/DEFERRED JOB OFFERS

Employers needing to rescind or defer employment offers should review the NACE Position Statement on Rescinded and Deferred Employment Offers. Employer partners should contact the Leob Center and the candidate as soon as possible.

REPORTING NEW HIRE DATA

When requested, an employer will supply information regarding students who have been hired to fill full-time, internship, or other related positions. Information may include, but is not limited to, student name, title, division or unit within the organization, geographic location of position, employment start date, and compensation (if applicable).

POLICY CHANGES & UPDATES

These policies will be reviewed annually and may be subject to change at Amherst College’s discretion. When reasonably practicable, prior to revising this document, employer feedback will be sought and considered. Employer partners will be notified of revisions and of when they will be applicable.

Changes and/or updates to this policy can be made without notice. The directors of the Loeb Center must approve all final changes to this policy.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Loeb Center reserves the right to suspend an employer’s privilege to recruit at Amherst College for any reason, including failure to abide by our policies.