Professional Etiquette Policy

Job seekers are expected to represent both themselves and the school in a manner that demonstrates the highest standards of professionalism and integrity which includes, but is not limited to, the guidelines for behavior detailed below. By adhering to these career services standards for professional and ethical behavior, all Mizzou students agree to the following:

Interviewing Guidelines

• Sign up to interview for positions only of genuine interest to you and for which you meet the stated eligibility requirements
• Attend all interviews and events for which you are registered
• Notify appropriate Career Services staff in case of emergency, tardiness, or absence. Career Services staff will alert you to appropriate course of action to contact the employer, who should be contacted within 24 hours of missed event or interview.

Job Seeker Guidelines

• Provide accurate and true information
• Notify employers of your decision to accept or decline an offer in a timely manner
• Inform Career Services of a full-time job offer acceptance and take HireMizzouTigers/Handshake profile offline
• Request employers reimburse only reasonable and legitimate expenses incurred during the recruitment process

Failure to follow these guidelines as outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) will result in forfeiting your right to participate in job search activities through campus career services and HireMizzouTigers/Handshake. You will be deactivated from Handshake for any the following:

• Fail to show up or cancel an RSVP to a career event or employer interview without proper notification
• Are accepted for an interview and select the “DECLINE INTERVIEW” button
• Retract a job offer acceptance or terminate a hiring contract

Consequences for any of the above actions are as follows:

• First incident: You will be deactivated from Handshake until you meet with a staff member from your career office and write/send an apology letter to the employer.
• Second incident: You will be deactivated from Handshake for one semester.
• Third incident: You will be deactivated from Handshake for a full year.

Disclaimer

While MU Career Services reviews each company profile and job posting, it makes no endorsements, representations, or guarantees about the positions listed on its website and is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions or other aspects of employment. Nor do we bear responsibility for determining whether the students/alumni have the requisite training and work experience to qualify for a position. It is the responsibility of the students/alumni to obtain all of the necessary information concerning the employer and the position and to take all necessary precautions when interviewing for, or accepting positions with any employer.

Further, while MU Career Services makes every reasonable effort to assist students and alumni in reaching their respective career goals, the individual student/alumnus has the final responsibility for obtaining his/her own job, internship, or graduate/professional school admission.

Internship Guidelines

Definition

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is defined as:

“A form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.”

Criteria

To ensure that an experience—whether it is a traditional internship or one conducted remotely or virtually—is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship by the NACE definition, all the following criteria must be met:

1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
6. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

We do our best to ensure all internships posted on Hire Mizzou Tigers meet the above criteria. Students applying to internships advertised elsewhere should make sure those internships meet the above standards.

Compensation

Internships can be paid, unpaid, or for academic credit. In some industries, unpaid internships are the norm. Please research your field so you understand what the salary expectations for internships are before you begin your search. If academic credit is offered by the employer, you will need to contact your academic department about this option. Departments do not automatically grant credit for experiential learning, so please talk with your advisor before accepting an internship. Many departments will also require you to complete paperwork and assignments in order to receive academic credit for the internship. Ask your advisor if you will be responsible for completing any paperwork or assignments before accepting an internship.

Ethical Guidelines for Employers

The MU Career Services Council adheres to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles for Professional Conduct. These guidelines address the issues of offer timelines, negotiating offers and bonuses, and other aspects of recruiting within the university environment. For more information, please visit the NACE website.

Reporting a Problem

If an MU student experiences any discrimination, questionable practices, or is charged any fees during the recruitment process, please report the behavior to your Career Services Office immediately. You may also flag jobs on the site to indicate a serious concern and a staff member will follow up with you.

If an MU student experiences any egregious employer behavior while at the job/internship/co-op/field experience/practicum site, you will likely need to report this behavior to Human Resources or another entity within the company. Please note that while your Career Services Office can advise you during this process, they cannot remedy the situation for you.