The Office of Career and Professional Development is excited to announce the launch of the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program, formerly known as On-Campus Interviews, or OCI, which will take place in January 2021. Please review the Recruitment Program tab on the Career and Professional Development website for a more detailed explanation of the Recruitment Program and important dates, processes, and information, and join us at our first Recruitment Program Info Session on Monday, Nov. 16, at 5pm CST via Zoom: https://mitchellhamline.zoom.us/j/99577063189.
What is the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program?
Mitchell Hamline’s Recruitment Program facilitates connections between Mitchell Hamline students and employers seeking to hire. Through programming, 1:1 counseling, resume reviews, mock interviews, and additional resources, the Office of Career and Professional Development will help students prepare to submit applications, network with attorneys to build relationships, and interview with employers for open job opportunities.
Which employers will participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program, and what types of positions will be available?
Many of the employers that traditionally participate in Mitchell Hamline’s Recruitment Program are medium or large law firms who will interview students for summer clerkships (for summer 2021), which may ultimately conclude with an offer for post-graduation employment. Other employers may include smaller firms, corporations, or government entities. Employers can utilize the Recruitment Program to hire for summer clerkships, school-year positions (externships, law clerks, etc.) or post-graduate attorney positions.
Will the Recruitment Program be virtual or in-person?
All programming, counseling, and interviews coordinated by Mitchell Hamline will be virtual. Students with questions or concerns about accessibility with virtual interviews should contact Jessie Bergman at jessica.bergman@mitchellhamline.edu to ensure virtual platforms meet their individual needs.
Who can participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program?
All Mitchell Hamline students are eligible to participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program; however, students should read each employer’s job description and eligibility carefully, as many are specifically looking for a particular class. For example, many employers participating in this year’s Recruitment Program will be seeking students who will graduate in 2022 to fill Summer 2021 positions (typically law clerk or summer associate positions). Some employers participating the Recruitment Program will be seeking candidates who will graduate in 2021 (typically for post-grad attorney positions). Other employers may have opportunities available for school-year positions or externships for the summer or school-year.
When is the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program?
The Recruitment Program is a structured, formal process. Students who plan to participate should mark their calendars for the following key dates:
- November 16: Recruitment Program Info Session #1 via Zoom: https://mitchellhamline.zoom.us/j/99577063189
- December 1: Application Period Opens (Apply through Symplicity “OCI” tab)
- December 17: Recruitment Program Info Session #2 (via Zoom)
- January 5: Recruitment Program Info Session #3: Recruitment Program Refresher (via Zoom)
- January 8: Deadline for students to submit resumes to counselors for review.
- January 11 – 15 (Tentative): Mock Interviews
- January 12/13/14 (Tentative): Meet the Employers networking event (via Flo Recruit)
- January 17: Application Deadline
- January 27: Interviews begin and take place through Flo Recruit platform through February 12. Students should plan to generally be available for interviews outside of class conflicts.
Please review the Recruitment Program tab on the Career and Professional Development website for additional important dates and information.
How should students prepare for the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program?
The Recruitment Program is a structured and competitive process. There are several things students can do to prepare between now and January 27, when interviews begin:
- Make sure your class year is up to date on Symplicity (Go to “My Account” > “Academic” and change the class year if necessary). Please note this important step. You will not be able to see the employers interviewing your class year until you make this update!
- Upload an updated, formal legal resume to Symplicity. Reach out to your Career Counselor if you would like feedback to your resume or have questions.
- Review the Recruitment Program tab on the Career and Professional Development website for a more detailed explanation of the Recruitment Program and important dates, processes, and information.
- Schedule an appointment with your Career Counselor to ensure your resume and application documents are top-notch. Also, talk with your Career Counselor about questions you have about interviewing, employer research, or any other concerns about the Recruitment Program. You can set up an appointment with your counselor by emailing your counselor directly or contacting Career and Professional Development at careers@mitchellhamline.edu.
- Review the resources available on the Career and Professional Development website, including Videos and Tip Sheets, to learn more about best practices for professional correspondence, networking, interviews, your virtual presence, and more.
- Utilize some time over winter break to research participating employers that you may be interested in, and network with attorneys working in those firms. Your Career Counselor can help answer any questions you may have about how to approach this. For a complete listing of participating employers, check Symplicity throughout December 2020; registrations will be updated on a regular basis.
As always, the staff of Career and Professional Development is available to provide support, advice and resources to help you. If you have questions, please contact us at careers@mitchellhamline.edu or 651-290-6326.