Recruiting · The season in phases
One calendar item is usually a series
Choose your current phase, or turn an event into a preparation checklist. Original organizer instructions govern deadlines and registration.
What one item implies
Illustrative offsets, not actual deadlines. Start from the confirmed appointment or deadline and adjust to the original instructions. Saving a plan does not register you.
the calendar itemanother eventa taskoptional, dashed
Coffee chat
- -3d
- Confirm the actual appointment in the original booking system
- -2d
- Read the firm background and prepare two questions
- -1d
- Check time zone, joining details and the latest organizer instructions
- day of
- Attend the confirmed coffee chat
- Record one specific takeaway
- Attend a related event only if separately announcedoptional
- +1d
- Prepare a brief thank-you with a specific takeaway
- Log the conversation and any agreed next step
- +7d
- Check for relevant future opportunities if usefuloptional
- +14d
- Follow up only when there is a genuine next stepoptional
Info session, presentation or kickoff reception
- -7d
- Check registration requirements and actual deadlines
- -4d
- Confirm every required registration
- -2d
- Review the latest organizer instructions
- -1d
- Prepare a short introduction and two questions
- day of
- Attend the information session
- Attend a related reception only if announcedoptional
- +1d
- Thank a contact after a substantive exchange if appropriateoptional
- Check for relevant conversation opportunities
- +3d
- Review current announcements for next steps
Coffee-chat slot release
- day of
- Read the slot announcement
- Choose an eligible slot you can attend
- Confirm the booking in the original system
- +1d
- Check for corrections and booking limits
- If unavailable, check official updates lateroptional
Firm application deadline
- -14d
- Record the actual application deadline and time zone
- -10d
- Review the required resume format and materials
- -7d
- Review relevant office research and conversations
- -3d
- Submit with time to resolve errors
- -1d
- Verify submission confirmation
- day of
- Actual application deadline: organizer date governs
- +1d
- Record confirmed submission status
- +14d
- Watch for the next instruction; no invitation date is assumedoptional
Case workshop or firm case session
- -2d
- Check registration and any required preparation
- -1d
- Read the assigned preparation material
- day of
- Attend the case workshop
- +1d
- Review your notes and authorized resources
- +2d
- Practice with a partner and record one adjustment
- +7d
- Schedule the next practice session
- +10d
- Attend another preparation session if relevantoptional
Club hard deadline (resume book, interest form)
- -7d
- Read the requirements and actual deadline
- -3d
- Check access and whether a submission already exists
- -1d
- Prepare and verify the required file or form
- day of
- Actual deadline: verify time zone
- +1d
- Record confirmed submission statusoptional
The 8 phases in detail
The phases run as a flexible sequence, with case preparation alongside the networking phases. Each one lists what appears on the calendar or in the channel, the work it asks for, how to read it, and the Harper pages that help.
Learn the process
What shows up
An orientation, career resource or recruiting guide introduces the process.
What to do
Identify your goals and relevant offices, prepare a concise introduction, and choose a calendar and tracker you can maintain.
How to frame it
Check for active deadlines now. Learning the process and taking action can overlap.
On Harper
Register and submit
What shows up
An organizer opens an event registration, application or required form.
What to do
Read eligibility, office restrictions, time zone and each required registration step. Check the original portal for confirmation.
How to frame it
A saved event is not registration. A registration opening, closing deadline and appointment are separate items.
On Harper
Meet the firm
What shows up
An information session, presentation or networking event is offered.
What to do
Read the firm background, prepare a brief introduction and one useful question, then note a specific takeaway.
How to frame it
Use the exchange to assess fit. Treat every interaction professionally; do not assume a networking label makes it non-evaluative.
On Harper
Book the conversation
What shows up
An organizer releases individual conversation slots.
What to do
Choose a relevant office and a time you can attend. Follow booking limits and confirm the exact appointment and time zone.
How to frame it
An all-day block is not your appointment. An empty booking page does not establish your recruiting status.
On Harper
Have the coffee chat
What shows up
Your confirmed conversation is approaching.
What to do
Check the invitation, prepare a concise introduction and two questions, and leave time to record what you learned.
How to frame it
Listen and follow the answer. Two prepared questions are a starting point, not a script or quota.
On Harper
Follow through
What shows up
A conversation ends or someone offers a next step.
What to do
Record one specific takeaway and any commitment. Prepare a brief thank-you and follow through only on a real next step.
How to frame it
A thank-you can stand alone. Keep saved, drafted and sent states distinct.
On Harper
Prepare for cases
What shows up
You need to practice a case skill or prepare for an interview.
What to do
Choose a focused drill, practice with a partner, and record one adjustment. Revisit that adjustment in the next session.
How to frame it
Practice hearing and recapping the problem before calculating. Name the buckets before explaining them; targeted drills supplement full partner cases.
On Harper
Apply, interview, decide
What shows up
An application, interview invitation or offer requires a decision.
What to do
Check the original requirements, deadline and time zone. Confirm submission, prepare for the stated format and assess the offer against your priorities.
How to frame it
Firm processes differ. Use the current invitation and official policies; do not infer a deadline or interview format from another event.
On Harper
How Harper routes an event
Harper reads the title and tags the event; a firm name plus ‘reception’ is recruiting. The four groups below are the words it looks for. The rules after them settle the cases where two groups match.
How event labels are suggested
Recruiting52 words
- coffee chat
- coffee chats
- ocr
- info session
- information session
- campus presentation
- company presentation
- firm presentation
- meet-and-greet
- meet and greet
- reception
- kick-off reception
- kickoff reception
- fireside chat
- specialization panel
- networking night
- affinity night
- office hours
- case workshop
- case session
- case demo
- case framework
- case q&a
- casing
- casebook
- behavioral prep
- mock interview
- interview
- interview center
- application
- applications
- apply
- deadline
- recruiting
- recruiter
- recruitment
- resume book
- résumé book
- resume submission
- bcp
- 12twenty
- eightfold
- recruit portal
- registered events
- virtual coffee chats
- bootcamp
- recruiting panel
- bain
- bcg
- mckinsey
- kearney
- inverto
Social27 words
- party
- happy hour
- rooftop
- mixer
- brunch
- nightclub
- drinks
- tickets
- early bird
- student rush
- game
- hockey
- pickleball
- aquarium
- squash
- trip
- trek
- random walk
- ski
- whistler
- season pass
- birthday
- dress code
- dj
- welcome evening
- exhibition
- screening
Academic16 words
- class
- classes begin
- finals
- midterm
- exam
- course
- canvas
- bid points
- concentration
- professor
- syllabus
- lecture
- assignment
- study group
- grades
- bidding
Community22 words
- club signup
- join as an official member
- member intake form
- intake form
- interest form
- town hall
- welcome back
- members
- co-chairs
- booth groups
- newsletter
- families
- family interest
- conference
- competition
- pitch
- panel
- kick off
- kickoff
- 101
- slides
- resume book
When two groups match
- A firm name wins: 'kickoff', 'reception', 'panel' or 'kick off' with Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Kearney or Inverto in the text is recruiting; the same words with a club name (EVC, Net Impact, Booth Africa, Fine Arts Group) are community.
- 'Deadline' alone is not an application deadline: resume book, family interest form, RSVP cutoff and registration close are separate anchors (club_deadline or slot_release). Only firm posting or application language maps to application_deadline.
- An all-day block titled coffee chats or meet-and-greet is a slot_release container; the booked 20 or 30 minute slot inside it is the coffee_chat anchor. Create the series from the slot, not the block.
- An invitation explicitly described as an interview belongs to interview preparation. A conversational title alone does not establish its format; check the original invitation.
- Case 'workshop', 'session', 'demo' and 'Q&A' from a firm are case_workshop anchors even when they sit on BCP next to info sessions.
Which words start which series
- Coffee chat
- coffee chat, coffee chats, chat with, ocr chat, ocr coffee, recruiter chat, meet-and-greet, meet and greet, 1:1, one-on-one, office hours, virtual coffee
- Info session, presentation or kickoff reception
- info session, information session, campus presentation, company presentation, firm presentation, kickoff reception, kick-off reception, reception, fireside chat, specialization panel, networking night, affinity night, recruiting options session
- Coffee-chat slot release
- slots dropped, slots, spots have been added, more spots, sign ups are now live, sign-ups are live, registration link, register for, now open, booking link, scheduler, appointment
- Firm application deadline
- application deadline, applications due, apply by, application closes, deadline, due by, closes on, registration closes, submit by
- Case workshop or firm case session
- case workshop, casing, case session, case demo, case framework, case q&a, casebook, case preview, behavioral prep, mock interview, case practice, good to great
- Club hard deadline (resume book, interest form)
- hard deadline, resume book, résumé book, resume submission, interest form, intake form, fill out this form, by 7pm, by 12pm, by noon
Limits of these planning examples
- Exact deadlines, eligibility and appointment details must be checked with the organizer.
- Offsets shown here are editable planning examples, not firm requirements.
- Harper planning does not register, submit or send anything on your behalf.
General planning guidance. Illustrative offsets help organize preparation; they are not observed deadlines or firm policies. Follow current organizer instructions and verify registration in the original system.