Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students must portray truthfully and accurately all personal information, work experience, and academic details. Falsification or misrepresentation of information on (but not limited to) resumes, application materials, Handshake, LinkedIn, and/or other Cornell-sponsored tools is considered highly unethical and violates the Student Code of Conduct. In addition, intentionally omitting and/or embellishing information is also considered to be falsification. We advise all students to work with staff in the Cornell Career Network on their materials to ensure accurate and truthful representation. 

Students are expected to communicate with employers, graduate schools, alumni, Cornell Career Network staff, and other stakeholders in a timely and professional manner. The language you use is a representation of your level of career readiness and overall professionalism.  We recommend students complete the Career Readiness module in the Career Development Toolkit or consult a Cornell Career Network staff member to ensure effective and professional communication. 

Ghosting, the practice of not responding to emails, calls or other outreach, is not acceptable. Students should acknowledge receipt of messages within 24-48 hours, even if additional time to provide a detailed response is needed. Ghosting reflects poorly on personal integrity and professionalism. 

Specifically, students should always reply to job offers; it is best practice to reply to job offers, even if you intend not to accept. In these situations, we recommend sending an email stating your appreciation for the opportunity and that you do not intend to accept. It is unprofessional to let a job offer deadline pass without a reply. 

The Cornell Career Network provides many resources and technical platforms to enhance students’ professional development.  We encourage students to use these resources to their fullest potential, while still using them responsibly.  Actions that do not align with the intention of the technology or resource, including but not limited to: mass messaging, soliciting funding, harassment, creating or using plug-ins or other programs to manipulate technologies, and bulk or mass job applying, jeopardize Cornell’s contractual obligations to our technology providers. This may in turn jeopardize Cornell’s ability to offer these platforms to the Cornell community.   

The Cornell Career Network expects that students will also abide by and follow any user agreements set by our vendors and partners. Any violation of that agreement by a student or user may result in the vendor acting against their account (e.g., temporarily or permanently blocking accounts). Staff may also temporarily or permanently disable student accounts if the vendor notifies Cornell that a violation has occurred. 

When you accept a job or internship offer but later turn down that offer in favor of another opportunity, this is considered reneging. We encourage students who are considering reneging, for any reason, to meet with a career advisor to discuss the pros and cons of reneging on a job offer.  Advisors will work with students to carefully consider the appropriate course of action for their specific scenario, whether it is staying with their current offer or reneging. Do not accept an offer, even verbally, until you are sure it’s right for you. Employers typically consider a verbal commitment the same as a formal acceptance of the offer, even if contract documents have not yet been processed.   

If you are considering reneging, please speak with an advisor in the Cornell Career Network for assistance and support. 

Employers put a lot of time, effort, and money into hiring and employing students to work at their organization.  In return, students gain skills and insight that help to inform future career decisions.  Internships, jobs, volunteer roles, and other experiential learning are valuable endeavors that should not be taken lightly.  Upon accepting an experience, students should commit to fulfilling the training and job responsibilities necessary for the job.  This may include, but is not limited to: completing assignment projects, attending assigned work shifts, staying on task, and communicating with staff.  If you are experiencing difficulty honoring your commitments to an employer or if your experience is not what you envisioned, please discuss with a staff member in the Cornell Career Network. 

The Cornell Career Network provides the Summer Experience Grant, as well as other funding sources related to students’ professional development.  Students are expected to follow the same professional protocols in applying to funding through the Cornell Career Network as they do when submitting a job or graduate school application.  We ask that students generate their own responses to application questions and do not use AI in applications for funding.  Falsifying, omitting, and/or misrepresenting any information on an application or any materials for funding through the Cornell Career Network will result in the denial of the application and/or repayment of funding.  In addition, students will be ineligible to receive Cornell Career Network funding in the future. 

The staff in the Cornell Career Network are willing and able to assist students with all of their career development needs. We encourage students to utilize the resources provided by the Cornell Career Network to the fullest extent. In turn, we require students to engage with career representatives with courtesy and respect; career representatives may include, but are not limited to: employers, graduate school representatives, alumni, peers, guest speakers, and Cornell Career Network staff, both student and professional. Disrespectful language and/or harassment of career representatives, either in-person or through technology, is unethical and unprofessional.  We recommend students complete the Career Readiness module in the Career Development Toolkit or consult a Cornell Career Network staff member to professional interactions. 

Committing to Employer/Alumni Events:

Events with Employers & Alumni include Coffee Chats, Panels, Speakers, Dinners and Treks/Site Visits and other events involving employers and alumni as applicable.  Students who register or RSVP for an event involving an employer or alumni speaker/host are expected to attend the event. Please provide notice 24 hours prior to the event if you can no longer attend the event. Registration can be updated in Handshake. If less than 24 hours prior to the event, please email the Cornell Career Network office hosting the event.  

Attendees at Cornell Career Network events are expected to abide by the Expressive Activity Policy and all policies included in the Student Code of Conduct. 

What Constitutes as an “Interview”?

The Cornell Career Network takes a liberal view to “interview” for the purpose of the Student Rights and Responsibilities to encompass general interactions where a student may occupy a spot that might otherwise have been taken by another student. Interviews may be with employers, graduate schools, or alumni, defined as: 

• Cornell Career Network arranged interviews, whether virtual or in-person 

• 1-1 or small group interaction or “coffee chat” that has been arranged through the Cornell Career Network 

• Advanced sign-up career fair sessions (e.g., 1-1 virtual career fair sign-up) 

Interview Policies 

We encourage students to honor their commitments and attend all interviews, whether in person or virtual. By accepting an interview slot, you are committing to interview with the organization; cancelling or not attending an interview reflects poorly on you as a candidate, as well as Cornell University as a whole. In addition, you are taking away the opportunity from other students who may have wanted to meet with the employer.  

Students must manage interview activity carefully to avoid conflicts with first- and second-round interviews, exams, etc. Cornell Career Network staff make every effort to help students who encounter difficulty with interview sign-ups; however, it may not be possible to resolve all scheduling problems since interview spots are limited.

Cornell Career Network No-Show Policy Consequences: Interviewing 

If you do not appear for an interview or if you cancel without sufficient notice as described here, you are considered a “no-show.” Ghosting is especially egregious if you have accepted an interview and do not plan to attend.  In these events, you will also need to retake and pass the Campus Recruiting (CR) Eligibility Tutorial.  

We expect employers to communicate their offer procedures clearly, including how students should confirm acceptance (e.g., signing written documentation, confirming an offer electronically, etc.), and whether the employer considers a verbal statement of intent to be a binding job acceptance. We have established a set of guidelines pertaining to these communications, with the goal of giving students time for careful consideration of their employment options, to consult with family members and trusted advisors, and to make informed decisions.  

We ask employers to extend offers and require student response in accordance with the dates below. Many employers often request that students accept offers by an earlier date and some employers do not follow our suggested timelines. If you know that you will or will not be accepting an offer, it is good form to respond by the requested date (if not before) rather than extending the process all the way to the actual deadline. Always clarify with the employer whether a stated date is a preference or a requirement.  

If you have any questions or concerns about communicating with employers regarding interviews or offers, seek assistance from a Cornell Career Network staff member well in advance of any response deadlines. Cornell Career Network staff will maintain your confidentiality when possible and may intervene with employers at your request.  

Full-Time Offers for 2027 Start Dates 

Internship Offers for 2027 Start Dates 

Internship Offers for Summer 2028 Received in 2026-2027 Academic Year  

Students have the right to respect and fairness in the hiring process.  Cornell Career Network staff can guide students through many challenging situations such as: 

• Ghosting 

• Excessive pressure to accept an interview or offer, including “sell” calls 

• Interview Questions that are illegal 

• Harassment 

• Bias 

• Alcohol or drug use during the interview process 

• Reduction of salary or other benefits if a position is not accepted immediately 

If you experience these issues or other health, safety, or recruiting concerns, please contact a member of the Cornell Career Network. 

The Cornell Career Network employs several tools such as BigResume, BigInterview, and Handshake, as well as others, that utilize AI to provide students with career assistance.  In some cases, limited use of AI may improve application quality; for example, using AI to generate a synonym for an action word on a resume is typically benign.  While AI can help to supplement students’ career development in certain situations, there are many situations where the use of AI is unethical and/or unprofessional.  Students should generate their own work and interview responses through the recruitment process, as it demonstrates the quality of work that you will exhibit on the job.  Using AI to generate work that is not your own is dishonest, including but not limited to in recruiting processes that bar students from using AI in their application materials and/or interviews.  Students should work with a staff member in the Cornell Career Network to craft application materials, interview responses, and other materials that are authored directly by the student. 
 
It should also be noted that while AI can be a helpful starting point for career exploration or career advice, the best source of career information is through Cornell Career Network staff and approved resources.