Representing yourself at MIT events: How to engage well and make a positive impression
You may have heard of the concept of a “hidden curriculum” before — skills and expectations that can make an impact on your current or future success.
At CAPD, we know events can have a hidden curriculum too. To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to represent themselves at their best, this page captures best practices for engaging well at MIT-sponsored events, whether you’re connecting with employers, alums, or other community members.
Exercising your free expression at MIT events: How to plan safe, respectful protests and demonstrations
MIT is a community that supports everyone’s right to free expression, including protest and dissent. At the same time, we are all responsible for ensuring that university-sponsored events, like career fairs and employer sessions, remain respectful, safe, and inclusive for everyone involved. The expectations outlined below are grounded in existing MIT policies and resources. MIT holds all students to standards of behavior and integrity, as defined in the Institute guidelines.
This standard of behavior and integrity applies to event-specific conduct expectations. By registering for and participating in MIT-sponsored events, students acknowledge and agree to follow these standards.
MIT supports your right to express yourself, including through protest and dissent. Simultaneously, we are all responsible for ensuring that university events stay respectful, welcoming, and productive for everyone.
In line with what MIT Administration has communicated, any behavior that disrupts events, prevents others from participating, or makes the space unsafe isn’t allowed. Students who engage in that behavior may face consequences through MIT’s conduct process.
✅ Allowed
- Wearing pins, stickers, or symbols
- Holding signs outside venues or in approved protest zones
- Distributing literature in designated public spaces
❌ Not allowed
- Verbal or written incidents of direct threats, harassment, plagiarism, or other speech that falls outside the boundaries of the First Amendment
- Yelling over speakers, employers, or staff during events
- Leaving banners or props unattended (These will be removed without compensation)
- Using sound amplification (e.g., speakers, bullhorns) without prior approval
- Harassing or shouting at employers or staff
See also:
Planning a protest during an employer event requires compliance with updated MIT procedures updated MIT procedures and possible scenarios that refer to student demonstrations on campus.
✅ Do
- Email demonstration-planning@mit.edu at least three working days in advance, review the Event Planning Guide, and register the demonstration if required.
- Engaging in good faith with the staff responding to this email address is the most important step in planning any demonstration.
- For demonstrations with fewer than five participants that are unlikely to disrupt normal activities, advance notice is not required — but is still encouraged. Providing a heads-up helps ensure the safety and rights of all community members, including through allowing the Institute to respond appropriately if circumstances change (e.g., the demonstration grows in size or coincides with other planned activities).
- Protest in designated spaces.
- Engage in good faith efforts with event staff in planning demonstrations/protests.
❌ Don’t
- Plan a protest or demonstration day-of, or start a protest/demonstration at an MIT event without emailing demonstration-planning@mit.edu three days in advance.
- Violate MIT’s event planning and demonstration rules.
MIT upholds academic and professional integrity at all events, and dishonesty may result in disciplinary action.
✅ Do
- Represent your academic and professional background truthfully.
- Engage sincerely with employers and speakers.
❌ Don’t
- Submit false applicant materials (e.g., résumés, portfolios).
- Disguise protest flyers as résumés.
- Use someone else’s identity to access events.
- Pretend interest in an employer and proceed to disrupt or stage a protest.
- Use a company/organization’s logos or materials without authorization by the organization.
See also:
Students must engage in behavior that promotes civility and mutual respect for community members, guests, and recruiters — whether you are attending or protesting an event. Misrepresentation, aggressive behavior, and harassment violate MIT’s integrity and community standards and may be considered disorderly.
✅ Do
- Be respectful in conversations and take turns in sharing perspectives.
- Be mindful of time and others in line.
- Arrive on time for fairs or any other scheduled events and stay for the whole duration of info sessions or presentations.
- Dress appropriately for the event (business casual is a safe default).
- Be transparent, courteous, and honest in communication with employers and MIT staff.
- Use your own credentials and materials when presenting your experience and skills to employers and organizations.
❌ Don’t
- Interrupt conversations between other candidates and recruiters.
- Block access to organizations’ booths or walkways.
- Leave large items that obstruct the event space.
- Monopolize speakers’ or recruiters’ time. If others are waiting, try to keep your conversation to just a few minutes. Taking up extended one-on-one time — especially without letting others speak — can prevent others from having a chance to engage.
- Wear attire that doesn’t match the event (e.g., gym clothes).
- Arrive/leave in a way that may disrupt others’ participation in the event, such as…
- entering or exiting loudly during a speaker’s remarks
- letting doors slam behind you
- chanting while others are presenting
- weaving through seated attendees with signs at a talk or panel
- blocking access to booths or tables at a fair
- Film or photograph people without consent.
- Engage in loud, aggressive, or unsafe behavior.
See also:
Refreshments and giveaways are for students actively participating in events.
✅ Do
- Introduce yourself or share a résumé before taking food or swag.
- Ask organizers if you’re unsure about access to refreshments.
❌ Don’t
- Attend events solely for free food.
- Share food availability on public student channels without permission.
- Take large amounts of swag without engaging.
- Taking multiple items from the same table can appear disrespectful and may limit availability for others.
- When in doubt, follow any posted guidelines (e.g., “one per person”) or ask.
Make the most of your time and theirs with a few straightforward steps.
✅ Do
- Review which companies are hiring for which roles. (If you’re not sure, check out employer information posted for a particular event or review the employer’s Handshake profile.)
- Prepare a 1–2 sentence elevator pitch.
- Ask thoughtful questions about the company or position.
- If an organization is not currently hiring for a role that is relevant to you, ask for future contact info
❌ Don’t
- Spend a lot of time at tables you’re not currently eligible for.
- Ask more than several questions while others are waiting.
Students are expected to participate in campus events respectfully and professionally, and behavior that disrupts, threatens, or misrepresents may result in disciplinary action.
Violations will be addressed through MIT’s student conduct system.
Examples of prohibited conduct
- Disrupting events through aggressive or loud protests
- Harassing employers or staff
- Using banners or props in unauthorized areas
- Refusing to comply with staff requests
- Handing out fake résumés disguised as protest material
- Repeated infractions after warnings
- Amplified sound without permission
- Leaving materials unattended
Possible consequences
- Removal from the event by MIT staff or security
- Referral to the Committee on Discipline
- Loss of student recruiting privileges, including Handshake access, employer event participation, or student group recognition)
See also:
| MIT policy area | Relevant behavior examples |
|---|---|
| Academics & Integrity | Falsifying résumés or identities |
| Freedom of Expression | Protesting outside approved zones or without prior registration Using banners or loud chanting inside event venues |
| Disorderly Conduct | Blocking walkways or booths Leaving large props unattended Loud or aggressive chanting or sit-ins inside event spaces – not in the designated protest areas |
| Respect for People | Harassing staff or employer representatives (e.g., shouting, offensive remarks, blocking, following closely) Filming or photographing without consent or sharing online |
| OSCCS Disciplinary Process | Repeated or egregious violations Ignoring direction from MIT staff or security |
| Student Organizations | Coordinated group disruptions Failure to manage member behavior |
MIT student organizations hosting career fairs must also adhere to these conduct standards.
If non-MIT students from visiting schools engage in disruptive conduct, their schools will be notified.
Groups and their leaders are responsible for ensuring all participants, including non-MIT guests, follow the rules and will be held accountable for violations.
