Overview of the Program
Who can participate?
How can I participate?
When do employers interview?
Why wasn't I chosen for an interview?
What can I do if I miss the application deadline?
What are additional ways to obtain an on-campus interview?
How do I find out if I was selected for an interview?
How do I sign up for an interview time once selected?
What should I do if I can't make my interview appointment? How do I cancel?
Who is the on-campus interviewing staff member?
When I graduate, can I participate in on-campus interviews if I haven't found employment?
What should I do once I accept a job offer?
How can I help other Chico State students and graduates obtain employment?
The on-campus interview (OCI) program is an opportunity for employers and students to connect during on-site interviews in the Chico State Career Center. The program attracts employers from business, technology, services, education, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
During the 2007-08 academic year there were nearly 200 employer visits to campus to conduct on campus interviews. Most OCI positions are post-graduation, full-time positions, although employers also recruit for part-time positions, and internships by scheduling an OCI.
Only Chico State students and recent alumni are eligible to participate in on-campus interviewing.
In order to be eligible to participate in any on-campus interview, please stop by the Career Center in SSC 270 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (when school is in session) to get your username and password and to go through a brief (10-15 minute) orientation with an advisor. If you are not available between 1-4 p.m., please call the Career Center at 530-898-5253 for alternative arrangements.
Once registered, you simply login to JobCat.
The first steps to participate in OCI are completing your online profile and uploading your resume on JobCat, then you can begin searching for positions meeting your skills, background, education, and interests.
Next, review the job qualifications to determine if you meet the employer's specific selection criteria. If you match the employer’s requirements, you will be able to apply for the position online by selecting the appropriate resume and other application materials and clicking the "submit" button.
Employers interview on campus during the fall and spring semesters, with most visits taking place in September-November and February-April. On-campus interviews do not take place in the summer, although you should be preparing for your job hunt and researching prospective employers when school is not in session.
Students not obtaining interviews often don't meet the employer's criteria (e.g. major, year in school, degree, and/or work authorization status). If the criteria are met, then the student's experience, GPA, or lack of previous internship experience may have influenced the employer's decision. The job market is competitive. Many employers actively recruit students who maintain a solid GPA while gaining work experience with internships and part-time positions, participating in campus student organizations, and/or volunteering.
Many students do not submit high quality resumes even though they are good candidates for the position. A resume that is not targeted to the employer/industry and doesn't reflect all of your knowledge, experience, skills, and qualities, reduces your chances of obtaining an interview. The Chico State Career Center strongly encourages you to have your resume critiqued before applying for positions. We review resumes daily during our “drop-in” hours from 1-4 p.m. (when school is in session) in SSC 270, or you can make an appointment with your career advisor by calling 530-898-5253.
Contact the employer and explain your situation and qualifications. Often times, employers can extend deadlines or give the Career Center staff permission to add students after a deadline has passed. Remember to review jobs on JobCat on a regular basis and monitor the deadline application dates.
Login to JobCat
Click "Interviews" (on the bar at the top). Then select the “Interview Requests” tab. Here you will see your status for all of the applications you have submitted. This status of your interview request may be "invited", "not invited", "alternate", or "pending."
When you are selected as an “alternate” you are not guaranteed an interview slot and may only sign up if a slot remains after the invited students have had a period of time to signup.
Once selected, you may schedule an interview by clicking on the “Interviews" link in the header, then click the “Interview Requests” tab, and click the “Schedule Interview” button in the “Options” column. Next, select an available date and time and click the “Submit” button. Once submitted, you can find the interview under the “Scheduled Interviews” tab. In addition, an alert will appear on your homepage informing you that you have been selected. The alert provides you with a hyper-link that takes you directly to the “Interview Requests” tab.
You can cancel your interview through the database up until two days before your interview. If a situation arises after the cancellation deadline that requires you to cancel the interview, please contact the Career Center immediately, by calling 530-898-8253 and also let the employer know. If you do not contact the Career Center to cancel your interview by 9 a.m. on the business day before your scheduled interview, the following consequences will apply:
Kendra Kittoe, recruiting coordinator, 530-898-5253
Yes, alumni living in the Chico area can participate during the semester following their grad date.
The ethical course of action is to stop interviewing with other organizations and honor your commitment to work for the employer hiring you. Next, visit the Career Center in SSC 270 and have your picture taken for our Success Stories Bulletin Board highlighting recent internship and career placements. We also encourage you to fill out the "accepted offer" form located on the Career Center home page. Please notify any employers with whom you have already interviewed to inform them of your decision to pursue employment with another company.
