1)    How do I get started?

Go to www.skydeck360.com and register your contact information, your company signals, and other preference information. You will receive a confirmation email with a link which you will need to click to complete the registration process.

2)    When do I need to do this by?

The platform will be open for Harvard Business School first-years from October 13 at 6AM to October 19^th at 11:59PM.

3)    Can I choose any company I want?

Yes!  On the company selection page, you will find a pop-up with a list of companies that we have created based on our understanding of popular HBS employers, many of which come on-campus. However our platform allows you to choose any company you want, and you have our guarantee that we will reach out to those employers and will communicate the signals we receive.

4)    Do companies need to be signed up for the platform to receive my signals?

We have relationships with a lot of companies that typically recruit at HBS, many of whom have already signed up on our platform. However, we will send your preference signals to whichever companies you choose, irrespective of whether they have signed up on our platform yet or not.

5)    Do I need to upload a resume?

It is purely optional. However, we think that having the resume next to the preference signal will make it easier for companies to develop interest and makes it easier for them to reach out to you.

6)    Does the order of my preferred companies matter?

No. However, within the top 10, we have delineated the “top 3” versus the remainder to allow you to tier your interest. Within the “top 3” or the “other 7” company signals, there is no differentiation.

7)    How will I know when you’ve reached out to companies?

Rest assured we will send all your signals to the companies you mentioned. If we have difficulty reaching any company you’ve signaled to, we will let you know.

1)    Who came up with the idea of Skydeck360?

Skydeck360 was founded by three HBS students who worked together before business school and spent a significant amount of time their RC year thinking about ways to help students get the jobs they want. Given their extensive experience and passion for recruiting and entrepreneurship, they set out with the mission of creating a self-sustainable venture using technology as an enabler. Skydeck360 was a semi-finalist in the 2009 HBS business plan competition.

2)    Is Skydeck360 officially endorsed by any particular school?

Skydeck360 is an independent FOPSE (for-profit social enterprise). We are not part of any university program and aim to be a complement , not substitute, for traditional campus recruiting channels.

3)    Where can I learn more?
 Feel free to reach out to us at support@skydeck360.com. You can also visit our open wiki-style blog (skydeck360.posterous.com) where anybody is allowed to post comments or feedback.

How much does Skydeck360 cost students?

Nothing!  Our service is completely free for students at the top MBA programs.

Then what is your business model?

Good question. Right now, we are in launch phase, are firstly and foremost dedicated to make sure the platform works effectively, and want to ensure that the data is useful for both students and employers. Our current thinking is that we will offer premium services to employers, but will refine this model as we determine what information makes getting jobs easier for students.

What information do the companies I have selected get?

Employers will get a list of students who have selected the company as a top employer of choice. They will also get your contact information and resume-related information if you have chosen to input it on our platform. You also have the option of uploading your resume which will be only be sent to your top employers of choice.

Do companies that I have selected know what other firms I have selected?

Absolutely not. Companies only get the names and basic information of students who have signaled to them, but Skydeck360 will never reveal your individual preference list to any firm. At the aggregate level (which will not include any personally identifiable information), we may provide student preference data to employers to help them understand the larger competitive landscape and how to best recruit candidates on campus.

Do companies that I have NOT selected get any data on me?

No. Companies that you have NOT selected will never get any information about you.

Which companies know whether or not I have participated?

The ONLY companies that will know you participated are the ones you have signaled to. Other firms will not get any information on you, nor will they know if you currently belong on the platform.

What information will any company (both signaled or non-signaled) NEVER get on me?

They will NEVER know who else you have signaled to, nor how many signals you have sent out.

How does it help me?

Simply put, Skydeck360 helps you in a similar way to attending a company event or coffee chat– it signals your interest to employers and allows you to stand out from the crowd. By limiting the number of signals you can send, however, companies are assured that each of the signals coming through Skydeck360 are genuine, and thus will pay more attention to the signals, making it more likely for employers to focus their recruiting efforts on you.

How should I be using my signals?

The ten signals can and should be used differently per candidate, and should NOT simply be thought of as indicating your top ten choices.  Instead, you should think about which ten companies that you are interested in would be likely to interview you if they receive your signal, but not otherwise. 

You might therefore want to send a signal to a company that you like but that might otherwise doubt whether they are likely to be able to hire you.  Or, you might want to send a signal to a company that you think might be getting many applications from candidates somewhat similar to you, and a signal of your particular interest would tip the interview decision in your favor.  You might also consider sending your signals to companies to whom you don’t have other good ways of signaling interest.

Depending on my background and experience, what is the best way to use my signals?

There is no one-right way to use the signals; however, based on research and other recruiting markets, we have some advice that may help to improve your recruiting potential.

For example, Candidate 1 has a strong background but is sensibly worried that the tough economic environment makes getting an offer more challenging.  This candidate might send signals to slightly-less-competitive companies at which she would be happy to work, but which might be reluctant to interview her because her very competitive background makes them worry that she’d be impossible for them to hire.

In another example, Candidate 2 is strong but not flashy and has trouble distinguishing himself from the crowd.  His signals to competitive companies will let them know that they should take another look at his resume and cover letter, because he’s particularly interested and thinks he’d be a good fit for them.

Finally, Candidate 3 has an unusual background, and thinks he’d be a good fit with some companies that don’t normally recruit from your school.  He worries that his resume will get lost in the crush, but that if it were given a good look, he’d have a reasonable shot at an interview. He can send a signal to convey that message through Skydeck360.

Now that I’ve sent my signals, what else should I be doing?

Use this as a starting point to map out your interests/passions and start formalizing a plan on where you should be applying, which companies presentations you should be attending, and how you will differentiate yourself from other candidates. 

Will I be put at a disadvantage if I don’t participate in Skydeck360?

As mentioned above, Skydeck360 is only one way to signal your interest to employers. We encourage that you use Skydeck360 as a complementary tool to what you would normally do and not as a substitute. Signaling through attending corporate presentations, coffee chats, etc remains important. We believe that not signaling through any of the above means will be put you at a disadvantage during a very competitive recruiting process and we believe that Skydeck360 is a good way to signal your interests to employers.

What if I didn’t get a confirmation email after registering?

Send an e-mail to support@skydeck360.com with details on the problem and we’ll resolve the issue.

What if the platform isn’t working?

Everything should be up and running, but if you do come to problems, send an email to support@skydeck360.com.

What if the company I want to recruit for doesn’t pop up on the list?

Just type the name in. While we have pre-populated a list of companies, we will reach out to any companies you list.

Does Skydeck360 work on all browsers and operating systems?

Yes, but for best results use Firefox.

Does Skydeck360 have an iPhone app?

Not yet, but we’re working on it J We would love any thoughts on platforms and/or tools that would make recruiting even better for you- feel free to reach out to support@skydeck360.com

Hey all, thanks for coming to our blog!