Students Rights and Responsibilities

Employers commit time and resources to recruiting Cornell students. We need to ensure that their experiences at Cornell are positive, so that they will want to continue recruiting here. If you misrepresent yourself or otherwise use the system carelessly, you will damage your own reputation, adversely affect other Cornell students, and waste the time of employers.

Before interviewing, you should thoroughly research the organization and the position requirements. While most Cornell students seriously research their interviews, we sometimes hear from employers that some students come to the interview unprepared and unfocused.

If you must cancel any scheduled interview it is especially important that you give enough advance notice that the slot(s) can be filled by those on the waiting list. Failure to appear for a scheduled interview or giving insufficient cancellation notice are serious breaches of professional ethics, for which there are specific consequences. Reneging on offers; falsifying personal, work experience, or academic information; or approaching employers directly on the day of the interview with an interview request may result in forfeiture of your right to participate in Cornell-sponsored recruiting. Check with the staff in the office where you are interviewing to learn about acceptable procedures to seek same-day interviews

The staff in the Cornell Career Network are eager to support you in your career development. Cornell students benefit from established, high-quality relationships with top employers across a wide array of industries. In the recruitment process, you are representing yourself and Cornell University. The rights and responsibilities outlined below reflect Cornell Career Network’s goal of supporting students through this process and ensuring that our employer partners continue to recruit at Cornell. These basic expectations are essential for you to maintain integrity in all aspects of your career development:

Portray truthfully all personal information, work experience, and academic details.

Attend all events and interviews scheduled through “Cornell-sponsored recruiting” (CR). If extenuating circumstances arise, refer to the policies below for guidance.

Honor your commitments. Reneging on an employment offer or other opportunities is a breach of ethics.

Eligibility for Campus Recruiting

To submit resumes through Handshake for campus recruiting activities, a student must: 

• Be a full-time matriculated student (i.e., earning a Cornell degree). 
• Be in good standing with all Cornell Career Network units. 
• Complete the online Campus Recruiting tutorial in Canvas. 

Studying Away from Campus: 

Registered students living outside Ithaca (living elsewhere while studying remotely; or studying abroad, in New York City, or in Washington, DC) may submit resumes to Cornell-sponsored recruiting schedules, but we expect you to follow some specific guidelines. If you need modification due to time-zone variation, you must arrange that with the employer. If you are designated a Primary or Alternate candidate, before signing up for an interview slot you must contact the employer to learn whether the employer wants to arrange a virtual interview.

Exchange Students: 

Exchange students or students who are studying at Cornell but will not earn a Cornell degree may not participate in Cornell-sponsored recruiting.

Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the Handshake system and meeting all deadlines for Cornell-sponsored recruiting events. Submit your application materials well in advance of deadlines to demonstrate your interest in the position and your time-management skills. Some employers review applications on a rolling basis, meaning there is no explicit deadline and applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Technical problems with your computer are not considered a valid reason for missing a resume submission deadline. If you encounter technical problems with the Handshake system on the day of an application deadline after Career Career Network offices have closed:

• Continue trying to submit materials until the deadline (usually 11:59 p.m. Eastern time but check the timeline in the interview schedule for specific details). 
• If still unable to submit, notify the career office hosting the visit of the problem ASAP but no later than 9:00 a.m. the day after the application deadline. (See list of contacts on the Cornell Career Network page.) After verifying the system problem, the career office will facilitate communication with the employer to resolve problems.

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.
• Failure to notify the Cornell Career Network will result in completion of the Student Rights & Responsibilities module in Canvas, a meeting with a Career Director, and/or inability to register for and attend future career events.
• We understand that special circumstances sometimes arise that inhibit your ability to attend an event. In these cases, please email the Cornell Career Network office hosting the event to discuss your situation.

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,” and you will not be allowed to participate further in Cornell-sponsored recruiting until you meet with a the Career Director in your home college  and send an email of apology to the recruiter. You will need to retake and pass the Student Rights & Responsibilities tutorial. Multiple unexcused interview absences will require further meeting(s) with the Career Director in your home college and may result in temporary or permanent loss of access to Cornell-sponsored recruiting and/or Handshake. In addition, chronic cancellation due to illness, emergency, and/or personal situations will require a meeting(s) with the Career Director in your home college, and may also require an email of apology, successful completion of the Student Rights & Responsibilities tutorial, and/or temporary or permanent loss of Handshake.

Interview Cancellations

If you elect to cancel an interview after interview sign-ups end (generally 12:00 noon two business days prior to the interview, but check the individual schedule) or you cannot physically attend a scheduled interview (e.g., due to illness or serious injury), you must notify the career office where your interview is scheduled by phone, email, or in person. 

Notify both the employer and the Cornell Career Network office of your inability to attend the interview.

Do not cancel a first-round interview with another employer in order to take a second-round interview. If there is a conflict, please contact the employer directly to ask for an alternate date for your second-round interview.

Student Rights – Illegal Questions, Bias, Harassment, Alcohol, Etc. 

Interviewers should not ask illegal questions (refer to the Career Development Toolkit for a list of such questions) or demonstrate bias or harassing behavior. In addition, alcohol consumption should not be part of any aspect of the interview or recruiting process involving undergraduates. Please report any concerns you have about an employer’s conduct during the recruiting process to a campus career professional. To the extent possible, Cornell Career Network staff will maintain confidentiality.

Offers and Timelines 

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 to give careful consideration to 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 ignore our suggested timelines. If you know that you will 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 2026 Start Dates 

Internship Offers for 2026 Start Dates 

Internship Offers for Summer 2027 Received in 2025-2026 Academic Year  

Excessive Pressure/Exploding Offers from Employers 

Employers should not pressure students to accept an offer before the timelines above or make “exploding offers.” Examples of excessive pressure include repeated “sell calls” from team members to assess a student’s status; insisting on a verbal commitment from a student before sending a written offer; or statements such as “If I offer you the position today, will you take it?” Exploding offers are those that require a quick response time (e.g., 6-24 hours) or call for a reduction in base salary after a certain date. Please discuss with a career advisor how to handle these situations.

Start Dates 

Employers know that students typically expect to start work in June, July, August, or September (for December grads January may also be an option). Employers must give students an accurate start date and must include it in the offer letter. You should be aware that some employers have been known to delay or push back start dates, sometimes significantly. If your start date is delayed, please contact the Cornell Career Network.

Accepting Offers and Closing Your Search 

Once you accept an offer, you must notify other employers that you are not continuing the interviewing process. This is the case for any offer, even if it is not the result of Cornell-sponsored recruiting.

If you have multiple offers, we expect you to narrow the field to the positions that interest you the most and discontinue the interview process for all other positions as soon as possible. Please schedule a “Job Offers” appointment with a member of the Cornell Career Network community.

If participating in campus recruiting activity, you must immediately remove yourself from the interview process as follows:

Accepting an offer with the intent of continuing to recruit for a better offer is considered ill-intentioned, and is subject to consequences, including but not limited to loss of Handshake and other services offered by the Cornell Career Network.

Reneging on Internship and Job Offers 

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.

Unethical, Malicious, and/or Unprofessional Behavior

Students are expected to act ethically and professionally in all interactions with employers, graduate schools, alumni, and members of the Cornell Career Network community.

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/exaggerating information, particularly but not limited to with the intent to deceive is also considered to be falsification. We advise students to work with a Career Advisor on their materials to ensure accurate and truthful representation.

Students are expected to communicate with employers, graduate schools, alumni, and career staff in a timely and professional manner. Ghosting, the practice of not responding to employer emails, calls or other outreach, is not acceptable. Students should acknowledge receipt of messages within 24-48 hours, even if you need additional time to provide a detailed response. 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 thanks for the opportunity and that you do not intend to accept. It is unprofessional to let a job offer deadline pass without a reply.

Ghosting is especially egregious if you have accepted an interview and do not plan to attend or have accepted a job offer and are planning to renege on the offer and disappear without communicating this decision to the employer.

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. Harassment of career representatives, either in-person or through technology, is unethical and unprofessional, and will require students to meet with the Director of Career Development in their home college and/or the Executive Director of University Career Development, who will determine consequences.

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. Falsifying, omitting, and/or misrepresenting information on an application or any materials for funding through the Cornell Career Network will result in a denial of the application and/or repayment of funding. In addition, students will be ineligible to receive Cornell Career Network funding in the future.