SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

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Recruitment Guidelines

Registration

In order to participate in the On-campus Recruiting Program, you must register on SIPAlink. For assistance with SIPAlink please contact the Recruitment Coordinator at 212.854.4626 or at sipa_ocs@columbia.edu.

Recruitment Calendar

The recruitment program runs throughout the academic year. Most private sector employers recruit from September - December for full-time positions, and November - January for summer associate and internship positions. Nonprofit organizations and government agencies typically recruit throughout the academic year for both full time jobs and internships. OCS also advertises full time positions and internships during the summer.

Appropriate Attire

Dress code for employer information sessions varies by industry. For private sector organizations, business attire is required. For some public sector and nonprofit employers business casual attire is acceptable. No jeans and no sneakers are allowed. For on-campus interviews students must wear a business suit.

Reciprocity Policy:

The Columbia Business School is responsible only for scheduling Business School students for information sessions and on-campus interviews. SIPA students may not participate in the Business School Recruitment Program.

  1. Information Sessions
    Some recruiters request joint information sessions between the Business School and SIPA. OCS will confirm which information sessions are open to SIPA students and the dates and times are announced in SIPAlink and OCS Career Newsletter.

  2. Interviews
    SIPA students may contact Business School recruiters independently and get selected for interviews. The Business School has agreed that SIPA students may be interviewed outside of scheduled hours. Please contact the OCS Recruitment Coordinator at 212-854-4626 to arrange a time and place to meet with the employer. Under no circumstances may SIPA students sign up for an open slot on an interview schedule at the Business School.

  3. Access to Career Libraries at Columbia University
    SIPA students have access to other libraries within the Career Services Offices of the various schools at Columbia University. Please present your student I.D., affixed with the SIPA sticker. Please note that you have access to their publications only, not employer literature, jobs, or counseling sessions.