On-Campus Interviews (OCI)

Getting Started

Who Is Eligible?

• You must be a currently enrolled CSULB student or qualified alumnus.
• You must activate your BeachLINK account and accurately maintain all fields in the Personal and Academic profiles.
• You must complete the online OCI Orientation to get access to OCI job listings on BeachLINK.
• You must have a resume uploaded into BeachLINK before you can apply for on-campus interviews.
• OCI is geared for students seeking entry-level, full-time employment or internships.
• CSULB graduates are invited to use all Career Center services for one year following conference of their degrees. Less recent alumni who subscribe to full Career Center services (See Alumni Services) may also be eligible for OCI.

Note: OCI is a program designed to assist current or newly graduated students, however, there may be opportunities for alumni as well, on a limited basis. Alumni eligibility for OCI interviews is determined by the specific employer posting the opportunity.

What's the advantage of participating in OCI?

• Employers make a special effort to interview CSULB graduates and alumni. They come to campus to seek you out, to make it convenient for you. It may be the only time in your working life when that will happen.
• Competition is reduced when you interview for jobs earlier than other college graduates. Some students wait until after the graduation ceremony to begin looking for work. OCI participants often have multiple job offers before or soon after graduating.

How do I activate my BeachLINK account?

Login to BeachLINK.

Username: Your Campus ID number
Password: The first letter of your last name in Uppercase, (i.e. 'S' not 's') followed by all nine digits of your Campus ID number.

Complete the profile page. Enter the address of the email account you use most frequently. You now have access to BeachLINK.

Is it necessary to completely fill out the BeachLINK Personal and Academic Profiles?

If you participate in On-Campus Interviews, it is extremely important for you to complete all profile fields. Failure to do so will cause you to miss out on employment opportunities for which you are actually eligible. It is important that you keep this information updated and accurate. Updated academic profiles, current phone and email addresses are vital for this program.

In the BeachLINK Academic Profile, what does the term "Applicant Type" mean?

Applicant Type gives you three options: Graduating, Non-Graduating and Alumni. In BeachLINK, Graduating refers to students who are graduating in the current semester. Non-Graduating is the Applicant Type for students graduating in future semesters. Alumni refers to individuals who have already received their degrees.

Online OCI Orientation

Important New Requirement for Fall 2009

Completion of an online OCI Orientation is required for all students and alumni who participate in On-Campus Interviews. Your BeachLINK account will be given access to OCI positions within two business days of the orientation completion.

To access the Online OCI Orientation (computer sound capability recommended):

1. Login to BeachLINK
2. Go to Shortcuts
3. Click on On-Campus Interview (OCI) Program Orientation
4. Complete the orientation and submit the completion form.

Getting an Interview

I've Completed My Online OCI Orientation. Now How Do I Get or Apply for an Interview?

1. Login to BeachLINK with your username and password.
2. Click the navigation button at the top of the screen marked "Jobs & Internships"
3. Click BeachLINK Jobs.
4. At the "Show Me" drop down list, select "All OCI Interviews" or "Show Me the OCI Interviews I Qualify For".
5. Click on the job titles that interest you and submit your resume and other requested documents.

How do I upload my resume and other documents into BeachLINK?

1. From the BeachLINK home page, click on the "Documents" navigation button.
2. Click "Add New"
3. Label your resume (i.e. marketing resume or J Smith's resume)
4. Use your browser to select and open the document file
5. Click "Submit" to upload the document.

Follow the same instructions for other documents after saving them to your browser in Word format. For example, copy your unofficial transcript from My CSULB and save it as a Word document. If the size of the document exceeds BeachLINK specifications, then save the document in Notepad as a text only file, then upload it to BeachLINK using the above directions.

Once my resume is uploaded in BeachLINK, can employers see it just by scanning the database?

No. Employers only view your resume if you submit it to them. Career Development Center Corporate Partners are given access to resume books but only on a limited basis. Protecting your privacy is a high priority for the Career Development Center.

What is the difference between "Open" and "Preselect" interviews?

Open: This option allows you to self-schedule an interview if you meet the employer's requirements that are viewable in the Screening Criteria on the job posting. This option is based on a first come, first served principle. The employer will see your resume only after you have scheduled the interview. No employer invitation is required for this type of interview.

Preselect: This option allows you to submit your resume to potential employers. The employer will evaluate all resumes submitted and select those candidates that he or she would like to interview. You will be notified by email if you have been selected for an interview. Then you can schedule your interview time on BeachLINK. You must be invited first to be able to schedule an interview on BeachLINK.

How do the "Preselect" interviews work?

The example below shows Schedule Details for a Preselect interview.

• You can submit a resume until midnight on the [Resume Submission End] date to be considered for a Preselect interview. You must be invited by the employer to this type of OCI interview.
• Employers review the documents and select their interview candidates after the [Resume Submission End] date,
• How do I know if I'm invited to an interview? If you are invited, you will receive notification by e-mail very early in the morning of the [Sign-Up Start Date]. After that, you may login to BeachLINK to select your interview time.
• Sign-ups end at midnight on the [Sign-Up End Date] and the schedule closes .

Please note that the trigger dates may be changed to accommodate the employer so check the dates that appear on the right hand side of the job description page under Schedule Details.

Why Am I Unable to Submit My Resume for Some Preselect Jobs?

You may not meet the employer's basic Screening Criteria for certain positions. You can review those requirements by looking on the right side of the job posting page beneath the Interview Date section . If you don't meet each criterion, BeachLINK provides a [non-qualify because] message under Application Status at the right, top of the job posting page. See the examples below:

When You Have an Interview

How do I prepare for an interview?

• Attend Career Center workshops on Interview Techniques.
• Make an appointment with a career counselor for interview practice.
• Use Perfect Interview to rehearse your answers to standard interview questions.

How should I dress for the interview?

Professional attire is required for these interviews. Avoid extremes (no bold prints, nothing too short or too long). Stay away from fad clothing and excessive jewelry. Also, avoid using heavily scented colognes or aftershave and refrain from smoking just before the interview. Remember that you are going to be meeting the employer in a small interview room.

When in doubt about what to wear, make the more conservative choice or consult with a career counselor.

Suggested Attire:

Where are the interviews held?

The Career Development Center, Brotman Hall 250.

When should I arrive for the interview?

Arrive at the Career Development Center 10 - 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. Check in at the On-Campus Interview kiosk by keying in your student I.D. number. Have a seat in the lobby and wait for the interviewer to call your name.

How do I cancel an interview appointment?

If you must cancel, you have up to 2 days prior to the interview to cancel the interview yourself by using BeachLINK. IMPORTANT: Short notice cancellations should occur only in case of an extreme emergency. If cancelling within 2 days of your interview, call (562) 985-8468 or (562) 985-4151 and we will let the employer know.

Cancel an OCI interview in BeachLINK (Cannot be later than 2 days prior to the interview.):

1. Login to BeachLINK.
2. Click on the My OCI Interviews navigation button at the top of your screen
3. Select the Scheduled Interviews tab (not the Requested Interviews tab)
4. Select the Reschedule or Cancel button

What are the consequences of a no-show, no-call for a scheduled interview?

A No Show, No Call on a scheduled OCI interview reflects poorly on you and this university and may result in the loss of your OCI and BeachLINK privileges. You may also be required to write a note of apology to the employer.