OCD--Tips for Prioritizing Academics and Decision Making
Lisa Hurst
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Inside Ross
As we near the end of the 1st 7-week term for the graduate students and head into the Fall Break for the undergraduates, I would like to reinforce the priority of placing academics ahead of the jobw search. I would also like to address the offer/decision deadline dilemma that many of you will experience once you head into the 2nd round interviewing process.
Prioritize Academics
During economic times like the one we are currently faced with, it is tempting to put career pursuits ahead of academic pursuits. It is very rare for OCD to find that a company desires a student to do this. When companies schedule office visits and second round interviews, they understand that students have very busy schedules. In virtually all instances where OCD has spoken with a company about academic conflicts, the company is extremely anxious to be clear that they do not want the recruitment process to supersede classes. Scheduling competing priorities is going to be part of your career. Handling these well is part of the recruitment process. In fact, your professional management of the time conflict can be a positive component of your overall evaluation.
Acceptance Timing Dilemma
It is wonderful when a student reaches out to inquire about the "dilemma" of which offer to accept and how to negotiate for more time in the acceptance decision to pursue other opportunities. Here's some of our standard advice for students who may find themselves with this "good problem".
Over the years, companies have become more aggressive in their desire to have quick decisions from students. A common question that we receive in OCD relates to the timing of this decision. Unfortunately, the decision date is occasionally such that it does not permit a student to complete the office visit process with other companies. In a more extreme situation, a student may desire to conduct an off-campus search where opportunities typically don't ramp up until the spring or even the summer after graduation. OCD supports students with the off-campus search and more detailed information on job search strategies for the off-campus search will be communicated over the next few weeks.
Prioritize Academics
During economic times like the one we are currently faced with, it is tempting to put career pursuits ahead of academic pursuits. It is very rare for OCD to find that a company desires a student to do this. When companies schedule office visits and second round interviews, they understand that students have very busy schedules. In virtually all instances where OCD has spoken with a company about academic conflicts, the company is extremely anxious to be clear that they do not want the recruitment process to supersede classes. Scheduling competing priorities is going to be part of your career. Handling these well is part of the recruitment process. In fact, your professional management of the time conflict can be a positive component of your overall evaluation.
Acceptance Timing Dilemma
It is wonderful when a student reaches out to inquire about the "dilemma" of which offer to accept and how to negotiate for more time in the acceptance decision to pursue other opportunities. Here's some of our standard advice for students who may find themselves with this "good problem".
Over the years, companies have become more aggressive in their desire to have quick decisions from students. A common question that we receive in OCD relates to the timing of this decision. Unfortunately, the decision date is occasionally such that it does not permit a student to complete the office visit process with other companies. In a more extreme situation, a student may desire to conduct an off-campus search where opportunities typically don't ramp up until the spring or even the summer after graduation. OCD supports students with the off-campus search and more detailed information on job search strategies for the off-campus search will be communicated over the next few weeks.
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