Missed Class

While students can use limited excused absences for recruiting, the HBS Learning Model and MBA Honor Code require all students to consistently engage in class. Daily attendance is expected and required of every MBA student. Students should review Section 1.5 Attendance for more information.

Interview Cancellation

HBS expects all students who participate in HBS-coordinated interviews to cancel before the schedules “freeze.” After that date, students are expected to honor the interview unless they have already accepted another job offer. Students must notify both the Career and Professional Development (CPD) Office and the organization of accepted offers before withdrawing from a scheduled interview. Students who have received an offer are expected to attend all scheduled interviews.

Evaluating & Accepting a Job Offer

For the Class of 2025 Second-Year Students

Organizations are asked to keep job offers open for a minimum of two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer.

For the Class of 2026 First-Year Students

Organizations are asked to keep job offers open until Friday, February 7, 2025, or a minimum of two weeks from the date the student receives the written offer, whichever date is later.

For Both Classes

Organizations may offer incentives to students to accept offers early. The base offer (base salary, guaranteed compensation, job function, and location) is expected to remain open until the decision dates noted above. For former full-time employees (including sponsored students), students and organizations may determine a mutually agreeable decision date.

Reneging on Job Offers

The term "reneging" means that a student has accepted a job offer, either verbally or in writing, and then changed their mind and rejected the offer (for any reason). Reneging up to nine months after graduation from HBS is an extremely serious recruiting violation and is inconsistent with HBS Community Values.

The consequences of reneging in these circumstances may include:

  • Loss of CPD and Alumni privileges. This includes the use of hbs.edu email, access to alumni resources, and reunion attendance.
  • Notation of the violation on the student’s academic transcript or, if the student has graduated, in their HBS alumni file.

If a student is considering reneging, it is imperative that they contact the CPD Managing Director to discuss the situation before a decision is made. How a student handles the decision is critical. The CPD Office cannot stress enough how seriously HBS considers the violation of reneging. These actions will impact the student, their classmates, HBS alumni, and the HBS reputation.

Recruiter Standards

As with students, HBS expects recruiters to follow standards of conduct as they recruit at HBS. If a student is concerned with recruiter actions, they may view the MBA Recruiting Standards of Conduct for further clarification or contact CPD for advice in handling a particular situation.

HBS Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying Policy

Harvard Business School makes its facilities and resources available to recruiting organizations whose practices are consistent with the HBS Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying Policy.

Harvard Business School reserves the right to modify its recruiting standards of conduct throughout the year.