Job Flurry Hits Harvard

The number of on-campus recruiters at Harvard this fall has reached a record high since Sept. 11, according to the Office of Career Services (OCS).

Recruiters from over 125 companies—the greatest number since the end of the dot-com boom—are visiting Harvard within the next two months, seeking students to fill full-time positions at their firms, according to Judy Murray, who oversees the OCS recruiting program.

Most of these companies are in the banking, consulting and finance industries.

“Our recruiting schedule is booked solid from Oct. 19 through November,” Murray said. “It looks very good for [the Class of 2005].”

Murray warned students not to take the situation for granted.

“This year looks promising,” Murray said. “But it’s up to the students to come prepared with good resumes and cover letters.”

Murray said on-campus recruiting fell after the internet bubble burst and declined sharply after Sept. 11, 2001. It remained at a low in the 2002-2003 academic year and made a slight recovery during last year’s recruiting season. And though Murray said she has no statistics available, she added that this year’s fully booked recruiting schedule speaks for itself.

But with the increased number of recruiters comes a greater number of students looking to be recruited, as was revealed Wednesday and yesterday at packed recruiting orientation meetings.

Many recruiters have noticed the uncharacteristically large turnouts at their on-campus events.

“It was tremendous, we were busting at the seams,” said Bain & Company recruiter Glenna Ryan, of the Bain information session that took place Wednesday night. “We were very pleased.”

Murray said a recruiter from Morgan Stanley reported back to OCS that over 250 students—many more than expected—attended the company information meeting.

“Companies have been impressed by the number of students who attend these meetings,” Murray said.

Students gave a variety of reasons for attending the information sessions.

“I’m an English major and I didn’t want to close off my options,” said Joelle Hobeika ’05. “If you miss these meetings, you’ve closed doors.”

Other students are more directed in their recruiting efforts.

“I’m looking into consulting,” said Ashley N. Fochtman ’05 who said she was unaware of the increased number of companies that are recruiting on campus. “But I think it’s going to be more competitive than usual because consulting is becoming a more popular industry.”

Fochtman added that she thought a broader range of firms attract Harvard students than was true in the past. “It’s not just about McKinsey anymore,” she said.

Peer pressure has also driven up numbers of attendees.

“Everyone else is doing it,” Hobeika joked. “It’s like if all your friends jump off a bridge...”

The attendees at these meetings are not just seniors looking to be recruited full-time.

Many juniors, and even sophomores, have attended to prepare for the future or learn about summer opportunities.

“I’m just here for summer stuff,” said Turhan F. Sarwar ’06. “I even came to these meetings last year.”

—Staff writer Claire G. Friedman can be reached a cfriedm@fas.harvard.edu.