Employer and Recruiter Services

Thank you for your interest in connecting with and recruiting our students! Tompkins Cortland Community College prepares students with various backgrounds and experiences for in-demand occupations and transfer degrees through more than 40 degree and certificate programs, as well as 12 microcredential programs.

Many of our students, both traditional-age and adult learners with professional experience, plan to transfer to four-year institutions, while others will enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. While they are enrolled at TC3, our students engage in meaningful education and develop the skills they need to succeed after college.

We look forward to connecting you with our students and alumni to support their career exploration and fulfill your recruiting needs.

Are you an employer interested in having a College representative come talk to your employees about microcredentials, certificates, and degree programs available at TC3? Let us know! Also, check out our continuing education and training programs for your employers!

Create Employer Profile on Handshake

Tompkins Cortland Community College uses the online platform Handshake to educate students about the many amazing employers in our region and beyond, and disseminate employment and experiential learning opportunities to students and alumni. Through Handshake you can:

• Create a comprehensive employer profile (include your mission, culture, types of careers, and information that would be interesting to a first-time viewer) to showcase your organization and encourage students to connect with you for informational interviews, shadowing opportunities, internships, and jobs
• Learn about career exploration and recruiting events at Tompkins Cortland Community College
• Post opportunities for TC3 students and alumni, as well as students at regional schools and beyond 
• Host virtual info sessions about careers in your organizations and professional development workshops 
• Schedule and host remote interviews for available positions

To get started on Handshake, you must:

• Review "Getting Started on Handshake (for Employers)"
• Carefully read the TC3 Handshake Posting Guidelines for Employers (this is an important step to increase your chances of being approved in the system)
• Create/update your Handshake profile. Once your profile is reviewed and approved, you can begin posting jobs, internships, micro-internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, and volunteer opportunities for TC3 students and alumni

Come to Campus!

We encourage our employer partners to have regular involvement with the College in order to enhance brand awareness amongst our students and alumni, and to play an important role in students' career education. Here are some options we would be happy to explore with you:

• Info sessions about your organization and related careers in the classroom
• Coffee chats/Office hours to meet with students one-on-one or in small groups
• Virtual interviews for open positions
• Career exploration events to showcase your organization, industry, and opportunities
• Networking events with other employers in the region and with students
• Practice interviews or other professional development activities with students
• Internship and job fairs open to students and the community
• Tabling on campus to bring awareness to your organization

Internship Recruiting and Hiring Timelines

Internships are an excellent way to create a robust talent pipeline for your organization. If you're interested in hosting TC3 students as interns throughout the year, please adhere to the following posting schedule to have the best chance of finding interns. This timeline is especially important for students who are seeking to earn credit for their experience. 

• Spring Internships
  • Post opportunities by October 1
  • Set application deadlines as October 31
  • Interview and make offers by November 15
  • Start internship according to student's academic timeline (first or second week of the semester)
• Summer Internships
  • Post opportunities by February 1
  • Set application deadlines as February 28
  • Interview and make offers by March 15
  • Start internship according to student's academic timeline (after the end of the Spring semester)
• Fall Internships
  • Post opportunities by March 1
  • Set application deadlines as March 31
  • Interview and make offers by April 15
  • Start internship according to student's academic timeline (first or second week of the semester)

Other Ways to Engage

While internships are a fantastic way to engage students, there are many other options as well! Consider the opportunities below and contact Dara Riegel to discuss your options.

• Mentorship opportunities
• Professional development workshops
• Classroom projects
• Practice interviews
• Service projects
• Volunteer opportunities
• Shadowing
• Informational interviews
• Industry/sector panels
• Employer visits
• Sponsoring events and activities
• Classroom visits (upon faculty approval)

Employer Guidelines

Employers must follow Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recruitment and employment laws, applicable federal and NY state labor laws, as well as the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Additionally, Tompkins Cortland Community College adheres to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles for Professional Practice and Professional Standards for University Relations and Recruiting.

Contact Us

Dara Riegel
Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Experiential Learning
BIZ | Workforce and Employer Partnerships
Schedule Virtual Meeting
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.