Oberlin College & Conservatory

Regional Interview Days

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Introduction | Regional Interview Days | On-Campus Recruiting (OCR)

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Regional Interview Days provides students with off-campus interview opportunities for post-grad and internship positions with over 70 employers located in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Organized through the Selective Liberal Arts Consortium (SLAC), interviewing through Regional Interview Days will put you in direct contact with employers in fields such as education, advertising, marketing, political organizing, technology, economic research, consulting, public policy, law, government, and medical & scientific research.

How it works

• Employers post job descriptions in the SLAC online jobs and internships database.
• Students review job and internship opportunities and submit resumes and cover letters for specific positions.
• Employers select the applicants that they want to interview.
• Students travel to Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and/or Washington, DC for their interviews. Interviews are held at a conference center in each city - meaning you can easily interview with 4 or more organizations in one day because all of the employers are under one roof!

Interview Dates & Locations

It is your responsibility to get to each of the Regional Interview Day locations. If you do not live in the particular city in which you are interested, remember to consider travel expenses (flight, train, hotel). Can you realistically arrange to get to that city (or cities)? Look into opportunities for sharing rides and accommodations to decrease expenses.

• Chicago: Friday, November 30, 2012
• New York City: Friday, January 4, 2013
• Washington DC: Monday, January 7, 2013
• San Francisco: Friday, January 11, 2013

Need-Based Travel Grants

The Office of Career Services has limited funds available to subsidize costs associated with participation in Regional Interview Days in Chicago, Washington, DC, New York City and San Francisco. Download the application form here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with the final deadline of 5pm Monday, November 19, 2012.

Application Deadlines

• Application period for all cities begins Wednesday, October 1, 2012
• Chicago Interview Day application deadline: Wednesday, October 17, 2012
• New York and Washington DC Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 31, 2012

 

Application & Interview Preparation

The employers recruiting through SLAC have very high expectations of the students applying for and interviewing at Regional Interview Days. As a representative of Oberlin it is important that you take the time to create error free and personalized applications and that you thoroughly prepare for your interviews.

For assistance with application and interview preparation:

• Schedule an appointment with a career advisor
• Meet with a peer career advisor during regularily scheduled drop-in hours: daily from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Extended drop-in hours: Wednesday, October 31, 2pm - 5pm.

 

Frequently Asked Questons

How many interviews could I have?
It depends on the number of positions to which you apply. Obviously, it’s rare for someone to get an interview offer for every job, but we’ve had some students each year who have had 4-5 interviews in one day, in one location. Others have gone for just one interview that really appealed. (We’d be glad to help you explore possibilities with other regional employers for any city you’ll be visiting.)

If I have to pay the expenses to attend these events, is it really worth it?
Think of it this way: If an employer invited you for a job interview in February and didn’t cover travel expenses (not all do), you’d have to take time off from classes and make the trip for one interview. With three of the SLAC events, you can avoid class conflicts and have multiple interviews on one day -- or within a cluster of days if you attend multiple events. So it’s actually very cost effective. Three of the events occur in early January when hotels typically reduce their rates due to a slower business cycle.

How many students get jobs from these interview days?
We find that over 80% of student receive first round interviews through Regional Interview Days. Of those students, 30-40% get offers for second interviews, with about 20-25% receiving offers. Your success depends upon how well you prepare your applications, how well prepared you are for the interviews, the types of questions you ask, and the follow-up (thank-you letter for the interview). Consider setting up a mock interview through our office prior to these events.

What if I’m still exploring several career options?
These events are perfect for you, as you can interview with multiple employers in several fields. You still need to be prepared to explain your interest in each field and how your educational background and experience can be beneficial to them.

What if I’m not interested in any of these employers, these jobs, or these city locations?
April 1 - 8, 2013, SLAC hosts the Coast to Coast Virtual Fair, an online event that incorporates additional employers. The Office of Career Services staff can also help you tap into a wealth of resources specific to your fields of interest and geographic preferences. There are many ways we can assist. Call 440-775-8140 to set up an appointment!