Recruiting Eligibility

OCS Recruiting is for Harvard FAS students and recent alumni.  The employers who participate often hire for “entry-level” roles and internships, meaning that they are primarily looking for Harvard College students.  GSAS students, select Extension School students from degree-granting programs, and recent College and GSAS alumni are also eligible to participate, but employers may restrict particular job and internship opportunities to specific school and class-levels.  Post-docs and students from the other schools at Harvard are not eligible to participate in interviews and do not have access to Crimson Careers, but they are included in some OCS Career Fairs & Expos.

Harvard College Students and Alumni

Employers consider your class-level based on the number of summers you have left before you would be a full-time, post-graduate hire, so be aware of this, especially when you apply to summer internship programs.

  • Seniors (expected graduation Fall 2022 or Spring 2023) are eligible for the vast majority of full-time jobs. If graduating “off-cycle,” the majority of employers will still want to hire you for a summer 2023 start date.  January start dates may be available with some employers, but it is not the norm.
  • Juniors (expected graduation Fall 2023 or Spring 2024) are eligible for the vast majority of summer internship roles.  Since it is your penultimate summer, employers and students often think of this summer internship as a mutual 10 week interview that could result in a full-time offer after graduation.
  • Sophomores (expected graduation Fall 2024 or Spring 2025) and First-years (Fall 2025 or Spring 2026) may be eligible for some summer internship opportunities, especially for diversity programs and tech internships.  There are numerous internship opportunities available outside of OCS Recruiting, as well as research, internship, and study abroad programs with generous funding from Harvard.
  • Recent Alumni are welcome to apply to any opportunity that the employer has not restricted to undergraduate class levels. You can use the available recruiter contact information to see if the employer hires alumni in a different way.

Harvard Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Students and Alumni

Many employers are eager to hire candidates with your skills, experience, and expertise. Some will include Master’s and/or PhD students in the same applicant pool as undergrads, some will have specialized processes for advanced degree candidates, and some will consider you a “lateral” or experienced hire.

  • MA, MS, and PhD students and recent alumni are encouraged to focus on opportunities where employers indicate that the “Preferred Class Level” is Master’s Student or Doctoral Student.  You are also welcome to apply to any other opportunity as long as the employer has not restricted applications to certain class levels.
  • If you cannot apply to a particular role that interests you because it is restricted to Harvard College students, use the available recruiter contact information to see if the employer hires graduate students in a different way.
  • Remember that OCS offers advisers and resources exclusively to GSAS students that are tailored to your specific needs.

Select Harvard Extension School Students

Many employers are eager to hire candidates with your skills, experience, and expertise.  However, most will consider Extension School students a “lateral” or experienced hire and have a separate process to consider you as a candidate.

  • ALB and ALM degree students must be in their final year of study, meet a 3.5 GPA requirement, and attend the HES OCS Recruiting Orientation to participate.  ALMs are encouraged to focus on opportunities where employers indicate that the “Preferred Class Level” is Master’s Student, and all HES students are welcome to apply to any opportunity as long as the employer has not restricted applications to certain class levels.
  • If you cannot apply to a particular role that interests you because it is restricted to Harvard College students, use the available recruiter contact information to see if the employer hires graduate students in a different way.
  • Remember that OCS offers advisers and resources exclusively to HES students that are tailored to your specific needs.