What makes ILR unique?

It is the only institution of higher education in the United States to offer an undergraduate degree in the interdisciplinary field of workplace studies. ILR's curriculum spans six academic departments and encompasses the interdisciplinary, social sciences-based field of workplace studies. ILR undergraduate students are leaders and self-starters, and our advanced degree programs are the best in the world. At ILR, you recruit from a diverse group of approximately 1000 undergraduates and 250 graduate students to be future leaders in your workplace.

ILR prides itself on the ethnic, racial and geographic diversity of its students and is responsive to the social, academic, and cultural needs of students from diverse backgrounds. ILR students hail from all corners of the country and world. For information on current class year demographics, please contact our Director, Anu Lyons, at (607) 255-7816.

Recruit Current Students

Employers interested in hiring ILR students are expected to adhere to Cornell Career Service's recruiting policies  for internship/full-time recruiting, and can recruit in the following ways:

Summer Internships

Many employers ask if they are legally required to pay students enrolled in an internship. The answer to that question depends on whether or not the student is considered an employee subject to the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA requires employers to pay all employees at the rate of not less than current minimum wage. The Department of Labor (DOL) has developed criteria to assist employers in identifying when a student is not considered an employee within the meaning of the FLSA:

  1. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to that which would be given in a vocation school.

  2. The training is for the benefit of the trainees or students.

  3. The trainees or students do not displace regular employees, but work under their close observation.

  4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees or students, and on occasion the employer's operations may actually be impeded.

  5. The trainees or students are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period.

  6. The employer and the trainees or students understand that the trainees or students are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training.

A student not meeting all of the above criteria will in fact be considered an employee covered by the FLSA and therefore the employer is legally obligated to provide compensation for his or her services. As with all matters requiring legal interpretation, it is always wise for employers to work closely with their own legal department to ensure compliance with federal and applicable state laws.

On-Campus Recruiting

The ILR Office of Career Services hosts an active on-campus recruiting program managed through Handshake. Employers find on-campus visits to be a very effective way to identify prospective summer interns and full-time hires.

The Fall 2018 calendar runs from September 12 to November 30. To request a recruiting date, please visit career.cornell.edu. Once your reservation request is complete, you will receive a confirmation via e-mail, with instructions for arranging your on-campus visit. For any questions about recruiting at ILR, please contact our ILR Recruiting Coordinator, Jo Tuttle, at 607-255-2724 or ilrcareerrecruiting@cornell.edu.

For more information on interview structure and campus visit including how to arrange an information session, visit our on-campus recruiting page.

Post a Job/Internship Without Campus Visit

Employers may also post opportunities (without interview schedules) through our on-line system, Handshake. Some employers opt to add an interview schedule after the submission deadline to convert a posting into an on-campus recruiting visit. 

Connect with Students

Career Fairs

Employers may also wish to increase their brand presence on campus by engagin in campus events such as career fairs and sponsoring career-related workshops.

The ILR Career Fair is an annual October event that focuses on corporate Human Resources and other opportunities. It provides a venue for students to learn about potential jobs & internships, career paths and organizations, and for employers to interact with ILR students.

The Social Justice Career Fair is held in conjunction with ILR’s Union Days activities each April and brings representatives from labor unions and other advocacy organizations to campus, allowing students to explore careers in labor and other non-profit fields.  

Offer career workshops: Employers are encouraged to contact our office if they wish to co-sponsor career-related workshops for ILR students. Depending on your target population and timing of the semester, we can provide guidance on appropriate topics of interest.

Sponsor Students over Winter Break

Engaging in our winter break programs is a terrific way to support our students career interests while increasing your brand presence among the student body.

Freshman Externship Experience (FEX) is a one-day shadowing opportunity offered over winter break, for first-year students to explore the ILR-related career fields, gain work exposure, and network with alumni. 

Winter InterSession Program (WISP) is a two-to-three week internship, held over winter break, that gives ILR sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students the opportunity to gain relevant work experience and complete assigned projects. 

Additional Resources

Resume Book

The ILR Office of Career Services produces an annual resume book in the Spring Term (ready by late April): the Late Spring Resume Book features graduating BSILR and MILR candidates who are seeking employment. The resume book is available to employers at no cost. To request the link, please call 607-255-7816 or email ilrcareers@cornell.edu. 

Hire ILR Alumni

Cornell Handshake offers free job and internship postings to all employers posting positions for Cornell students and graduates up to five years out.

To reach more experienced alumni, post in the ILR Alumni Bulletin by completing this form. The Alumni Bulletin is produced weekly and postings are free of charge. Search firms are charged a modest fee. For more information, contact the Alumni Bulletin Coordinator at 607-255-7816 or by email at ilrab@cornell.edu.