University of Pennsylvania Career Services recruiting policies and guidelines are intended for any employer who recruits Penn students. Our goal is to ensure that students and organizations engage in fair and ethical recruiting practices. Employers, student organizations, and other departments should keep Career Services informed of all on- campus recruiting-related programming involving Penn students. This is the best way to optimize your recruiting strategy and pipeline building activities, while avoiding conflicts with our schedule and campus recruiting policies.

For questions related to these policies or guidelines, please contact the Employer Relations team: Heather Knox (hknox@upenn.edu) or Jackie Moriniere (jmorini@upenn.edu).

Offer Guidelines

Offers with very quick response deadlines put enormous pressure on our students to make hasty decisions on full-time or internship opportunities. Most students are not ready, nor should they be, to make these commitments before completing their interviews. Furthermore, students receiving offers with very tight reply deadlines often call other employers in an attempt to arrange early interviews, thus greatly inconveniencing those organizations. Pressure from employers to quickly accept offers also increases the possibility that students may choose to renege on an opportunity, which the Career Services office strongly advises students against. We therefore encourage all employers to adhere to the following guidelines when hiring Penn students. All employment offers should be made in good faith. We strongly encourage employers to work with Penn Career Services if an offer is to be rescinded or postponed.

With this in mind, Career Services strongly encourages all employers to give students three weeks to make a decision for internship or full-time offers with 2025 start dates extended in 2024 and two weeks for offers extended in 2025.

Confidentiality Policy

All materials received from our students (letters, resumes, transcripts, via email or hard copy), should be shared only with those persons at your firm involved in the hiring process. Please do not forward emails from students to others inside or outside your organization.

Alcohol and Recruiting Policy

We know that you are anxious to host students in as gracious a manner as possible during the recruiting process, but please do not serve alcoholic beverages. Serving alcohol to underage individuals is against the law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and in other states. While it is not illegal to serve alcohol to those 21 or over, it puts all students in an uncomfortable position, as they may feel pressured to drink whether they want to or not. By serving alcohol, you are giving the impression that drinking is a requisite part of the work environment at your organization. Students who, for personal or religious reasons, do not drink may be dissuaded from accepting employment with your firm. Furthermore, please do not hold recruiting events in bars or clubs. These requests are in keeping with University policies, and the policies of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Non-Discrimination Policy Statement

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to: Executive Director, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs. Franklin Building, Suite 421, 3451 Walnut Street. Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205. (215) 898-6993 (Voice). (215) 746-7088 (Fax).