Tech Recruiting at Harvard

There are many opportunities on campus to engage with campus recruiters! Here is a general overview of how to navigate this process.

Career Fairs

Harvard and MIT’s career fairs are great for gaining exposure to different tech companies. The Business and Technology fair at Harvard occurs early September, so be prepared to start recruiting right when you get back to campus. Bring multiple copies of your resume to hand out to recruiters and company representatives. Come prepared with questions to ask them to learn more about their company, work life, and culture. At the end of the conversation, make sure to get their contact information and follow up with them after the event!

Recruiting Events

Numerous companies will come to Harvard to host information sessions, usually at The Charles Hotel or the Sheraton Commander. You can look at the OCS calendar to see when firms come to campus. Usually it is in the late fall/early spring. This is your chance to learn more about the company, meet some people who work there, and ask any questions you may have about the firm or recruiting process. Make sure to try to have a few conversations with a handful of people so you can follow up as the recruiting process progresses. Most importantly, send thank you emails to people you meet.

Applications

Students can apply for tech roles through Crimson Careers, company websites, and referrals from Harvard students who have worked at particular firms. It is common to get internships outside of Harvard’s network, so don’t think that you are limited to companies that have a booth at career fairs or post on Crimson Careers.

Here are some helpful tips from Harvard students who have been through the process regarding tech recruiting specifically at Harvard. A common theme we found is that the most helpful resources are your upperclassmen friends. Be sure to reach out as they are all super willing to help!

Take advantage of company events

“There are a lot of tech recruiting events at Harvard that are heavily publicized over house / first-year dorm mailing lists, along with club mailing lists. I would say that HCS and WiCS mailing lists provide the most opportunities of tech recruiting events on campus, so I would recommend subscribing to those lists. A tech recruiting event is usually organized by a single company, and can take the form of information sessions, mixers, game nights, etc. Usually these events are a great chance to learn about a company, their internship/full-time positions, and also chat with recruiters. I wouldn't say there's a pressure to go to all of them, and people can definitely get interviews without going to that company's specific event. However, it can be a good chance to learn about a tool or a company's culture, and some companies do keep track of who attends for future reference when their applications open.”

- Software Engineer Intern at Dropbox, Harvard Class of 2021

Utilize Harvard's Career Services

“OCS offers many great resources. For one, their career fairs and OCI (on-campus interview) program present many opportunities to network with representatives from various companies you may be interested in. The OCS staff is also incredibly helpful when it comes to resume reviews, and helping answer your individual questions.

Keith Karasek, the SEAS Director of Experiential and Career Development, sends a weekly newsletter listing endless opportunities in the community; if you aren't subscribed already, definitely reach out to him! He also often has availability for students to sign up to meet with him and seek individual advising in the career search, which can be extremely helpful. Even if he doesn't have the answers, he will definitely be able to put you in touch with someone who does!"

- Software Engineer at Microsoft, Harvard Class of 2020

Explore online and through LinkedIn

“I relied mostly on applying online, although there are definitely information sessions you can go to in order to ask specific questions and to get to know the recruiter. Cold emailing works more than you might expect! I have friends who found jobs by directly contacting recruiters on LinkedIn.”

- Software Development Intern at Amazon, Harvard Class of 2021

“Getting referrals is extremely helpful when it comes to getting your foot in the door! If you don't know anyone who's personally worked at your companies of interest, don't be afraid to reach out to mentors in your communities and leverage LinkedIn to seek them out.”

- Software Engineer at Microsoft, Harvard Class of 2020