Hiring & Transitions

• Unit Needs: Assess the current needs and goals of the unit and revise the position description if appropriate.
• Organizational Needs: Determine the needs of the organization and work team and review any changes in the nature of the unit’s work or the workflow.
  • Needs Assessment: Contact your local HR Rep or the Workforce Recruitment and Retention for assistance in conducting a needs assessment.
• Position Responsibilities: Design the position’s responsibilities and tasks to meet organizational needs and develop the position description.
• University Title, Pay Band, and Compensation: Consult with your local HR representative to ensure that the position's University title and band level are appropriate. See Classifying Positions, Salaries and Titles for more information on job classification and pay determinations.
• Authorization: Follow your local unit guidelines to obtain required hiring authorization.

Search Plan

Determine scope of the search and parties to be involved in the selection process. The decision to conduct a local, regional or national search should take into consideration:

• the nature of the position;
• labor market conditions; and
• the funds allotted for recruitment.

For each position vacancy, the hiring department and local HR representative must work closely to ensure that an appropriate search is conducted. Management of the recruitment process will directly affect:

• the quality of the candidate pool;
• the effectiveness of the interviews;
• how quickly the position is filled;
• the ability to hire the best qualified person for the job.

Diversity Recruiting Resources

• Individuals with Disabilities Recruitment Resources Guide (pdf)
• Diverse Living In Ithaca Guide (pdf)
• Interviewer Biases

Executive Search Firms

Recruiting for top talent in a competitive job market is a daunting task for employers. There are times when it may be necessary to engage the expertise of an executive search firm to help identify highly-skilled and critical talent that isn’t readily available through traditional recruitment channels. This guide for engaging with executive search firms provides important information regarding requirements and the steps you need to take to get started. Additionally you will find a list of firms (updated at least once per quarter) that have been used at Cornell in the last 24 months and their areas of focus, FAQ’s, and questions to help you evaluate potential firms.

Advertise

In order to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and to present Cornell University in a consistent and professional manner, all recruitment advertising should conform to the guidelines presented below. 

• Job Search Advertising Guide
• Advertising through the Graystone Group

Unlawful Inquiries

The New York State Human Rights Law prohibits pre-employment and certain other inquiries as to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status or arrest records unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception. Examples of unlawful inquiries can be found on the Advertising & Recruiting page.

Working with Temporary Agencies

Application Screening

• Employment Application (pdf)
• Application Screening Tips

Guide for Race/Ethnicity Reporting (pdf)

Conducting Interviews

• Interviewer Tips
• Interviewer Biases
• Video, Phone and In-Person Interviews
• Skills for Success Interview Questions
• Skills for Success Interview Questions for Leadership Roles
• Sample Assessment Sheet (pdf)
• Appointment Confirmation and Search Summary Sheet (doc)

References and Background Investigations

• Policy 6.2.2 Reference Checks, Information Verification, and Background Checks
• Checking References and Sample Questions
• Giving Employment References

Offering the Position

Be sure to obtain prior approval of your offer according to your department or unit guidelines (e.g. director, administrative manager, human resource representative, etc.). You will also need to determine a salary offer prior to offering the position.

• Tips on offering the position and offer letter templates
• New Hire/Rehire Guidelines (pdf)
• Dual Career Best Practices (pdf)
• Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers

Relocation Program

A partnership with Coldwell Banker has been established to provide relocation and real estate assistance to new faculty and staff as requested by the hiring unit.

Other Appointments

• Interns and Visiting Students - Cornell offers several options to individuals who wish to learn or conduct research at Cornell for a limited period of time (typically three to 12 months, but as many as 24 months for non-degree graduate students accepted through the Graduate School and affiliated with a graduate field) without intending to obtain a Cornell degree. The Provost's International Research Internship Program publishes "Guidelines for Cornell Faculty and Staff Engaging with Interns and Visiting Students" to provide guidelines and general information so that faculty and staff members can provide accurate advice on the options available, ensure consistency in appointments, and limit risk exposure for the University.

HR Services and Transitions Center

The goal of onboarding is to effectively and efficiently welcome new hires by providing a single destination where they will complete all required actions and receive valuable resources, allowing them to assimilate to the campus and community and to focus on their new role more quickly.

An effective onboarding experience will positively reinforce the individual’s decision to accept a position at Cornell, resulting in increased productivity and better long term potential.

• Welcome Website
• New Hire/Rehire Guidelines (pdf)

Customers Served

• All Ithaca-based employees, excluding temps
• New employees working in other locations outside of Ithaca to be determined

Net ID activation

• Paid appointments with a primary home email address, will be sent their NetID and activation code in an email.
  • If they don’t have an email address the NetID and activation code will be given to them by their department (printed letter) or sent via U.S. Mail.
• Non-paid appointments with a primary home email address and text message capable phone number will receive an email asking them to verify their text message capable phone number; an activation code is then sent to their phone to activate their NetID.
  • If they don’t have a text capable phone, their NetID will be given to them by their department (printed letter) or sent via U.S. Mail.

Manager's Role in Onboarding New Hires

Once the offer has been accepted, supervisors should start orienting the staff or faculty member to Cornell. This phase should be designed to reassure the new hire that he or she made the correct decision in coming to Cornell, and should begin to generate that new hire's excitement in coming here.

The Welcoming and Orienting Employees Supervisors Guide (pdf) has been created to help you in preparing for all new hires once they are here. These tools are designed to guide you in assisting them to become acclimated to their position, understand your management style and expectations, and have the tools they need to make a successful transition to Cornell.

Related Forms: New Hire Checklists (pdf), Probationary Review Form: Staff (pdf), Probationary Review Form: Bargaining Unit (pdf)

Engagement & Integration Program

Designed for new executives, targeted faculty hires, and their partners, to help facilitate a smooth transition into Cornell professionally as well as on campus and in the Ithaca community.