Recruit and Hire Students

Columbia College has partnered with Handshake, the leading career website for college students. Handshake focuses on helping students find the jobs they’re looking for and makes it easy for employers to recruit them. As the most trusted college recruiting platform, Handshake enables employers to connect with students through job postings, targeted outreach, dynamic branding, and digital features like virtual career fairs and events. As an employer, posting open positions on Handshake allows you to potentially reach over 8 million students at more than 1200 colleges and universities. To get started on Handshake, click to go directly to Handshake’s employer registration page.

You may also host an information session to make students aware of your organization or to target a specific group of students. Some employers opt to set up a table in a high-traffic area or schedule a room for a short presentation to students. To set up an information session on campus, all requests need to be submitted to careerservices@ccis.edu.

Each year, Columbia College hosts an annual Career Fair for any student or alumni that is seeking full-time and internship opportunities. The Columbia College Career Fair is designed to connect employers with the best and brightest Columbia College students and alumni for future employment. We encourage students and alumni to explore their career options, obtain employer information, and network with professionals in their fields. All employers must comply with the Columbia College employer policy listed under Recruiting Policies below. All reservations are subject to review.

Interns give employers a flexible, cost-effective way to build a workforce without requiring long-term commitment. Employers benefit from having highly motivated pre-professionals who can bring fresh perspectives, as well as an understanding of new and emerging technologies. Internships also train the next generation and provide your industry with a pool of future employees. 

Students also benefit from internships. They gain work experience and meet professionals working in their field.

Internships typically last between three and six months. They are usually conducted on a part-time basis during the school year, however they could be full time in the summer. Internships are typically one-time experiences. 

All eligible Columbia College students have an opportunity to earn academic credit for internships. Regardless of whether students earn credit, internships are unique from other jobs or volunteer positions, as they should have an intentional learning agenda structured in the experience.

For-profit businesses are encouraged to offer compensation for internships. If your organization cannot offer a regular wage, consider providing a stipend or paying internship-related expenses such as parking fees, mileage, equipment or membership fees to a professional organization. 

Unpaid student employment will not violate the Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act if the internship meets the following criteria:

• The training is similar to that given in a vocational setting
• The experience benefits the student
• Students do not displace regular employees
• The site sponsor provides training and receives no immediate advantage from the activity of students
• Students are not entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period
• The site sponsor and student understand that the student is not entitled to wages for the time spent in training 

International students are eligible to intern in the U.S. with no extra paperwork or cost. International students at Columbia College have a high level of fluency in English and can bring new perspectives and ideas to an organization. 

If a company hasn’t had experience working with interns in the past, below is a handbook that can help them put together a positive, meaningful and mutually beneficial experience.

What Is CPT?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is temporary work authorization through the college, granted to an F-1 student while they are still active in their academic program. The request is processed by International Student Services. Students must enroll in an internship course and/or receive academic credit for their off-campus work experience.  CPT must be renewed each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain CPT renewal before the current authorization expires. 

What Is OPT?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary work authorization granted by the federal government and managed through the college, for F-1 students who have recently graduated.  Students typically work for 12 months in their field of study.  

STEM (Science Technology Engineering or Mathematics) degree students may apply for an additional 24 months of work authorization as a benefit of their F-1 status if the company participates in the E-Verify Program. STEM applications must be submitted before current OPT authorization expires. F-1 Students must receive the Employment Authorization Card (EAD) before they begin working.  

General policies

Career Services may restrict access to recruitment activities for (including use of Handshake, promotion of opportunities across campus, or access to career fairs or other events):

• Employing organizations that improperly influence and affect job acceptances. Such practices may include undue time pressure for acceptance of employment offers and encouragement of revocation of another employment offer.
• Employing organizations that do not supply accurate information about their organization, employment opportunities and compensation packages.  
• Employing organizations that do not provide Career Services with appropriate permanent contact information.
• Employing organizations that require an investment on the part of students to participate in an internship or full-time permanent position. This includes purchase of a demonstration package or payment for a required training program.
• Employing organizations that do not maintain Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance and follow affirmative action principal in recruiting activities. Appropriate recruiting activities include the following:
  • Recruiting, interviewing and hiring individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws, and providing reasonable accommodations upon request
  • Reviewing selection criteria for adverse impact based upon student's race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws
  • Avoiding use of inquiries that are considered unacceptable EEO standards during the recruiting process
  • Investigating complaints forwarded by Career Services regarding EEO noncompliance and seeking resolution of such complaints
• Employing organizations that do not maintain the confidentiality of student information, regardless of the source, including personal knowledge, written records/reports, and computer databases. There will be no disclosure of student information to another organization without the prior written consent of the student, unless necessitated by health and/or safety considerations.
• Employing organizations that do not cooperate with the policies and procedures of Career Services or honor scheduling arrangements and recruitment commitments.

Specific recruitment policies

Career Services follows National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) guidelines in the Principles for Professional Conduct for Career Services and Employment Professionals. Specifically, Career Services at Columbia College strongly suggests the following policies:

Extending offers to candidates

Career Services requires that employers supply accurate information about their organization, employment opportunities and compensation packages when extending an offer. Employing organizations are responsible for information supplied and commitments made by their representatives.

Career Services ask that employers provide a reasonable time frame for acceptance of offers extended to candidates. No candidate should be given fewer than 10 business days to make a decision on an offer. Employers are expected to refrain from any undue pressure to accept the job or to renege on an acceptance of another offer.

If conditions change and require the employer to revoke commitment, the employer will pursue a course of action that is fair and equitable. This includes but is not limited to financial assistance and outplacement services.

Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)

Employers will be expected to maintain EEO compliance and follow affirmative action principles in recruitment activities. Employers should consider all interested students for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Employers should provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Career Services will:

1. Notify employers of any selection procedures that appear to have an adverse impact based upon a student's race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
2. Assist recruiters in accessing certain groups on campus to provide a more inclusive applicant pool.
3. Respond to complaints of EEO noncompliance, working to resolve such complaints with the recruiter or employing organization. If necessary, Career Services will refer such complaints to the appropriate campus department or agency.