When ABC Company announced that it was going to recruit on your campus, you were one of the first to sign up for an interview. The company offered everything you were looking for: an excellent entry-level position with the potential for advancement, competitive salary and benefits, your ideal corporate culture, and location in your geographical area of preference. This was the job you wanted--unless, of course, you were accepted into that M.B.A. program at XYZ University. In that case, you might put your job search on hold temporarily. A few days before the scheduled interview with ABC Company, you receive word that you've been admitted to the M.B.A. program. You're elated. XYZ University is a prestigious institution with an outstanding M.B.A. program. After some serious reflection on your career goals, you decide to accept the opportunity for advanced study and to devote yourself to it full-time. Now that you've made your decision, you relax and begin planning for your role as graduate student. You also forget to notify you placement office that you will not be interviewing with ABC Company. You have just become what company recruiters and placement offices call a "no-show." No-shows--students who cancel scheduled interviews without notifying the companies or their placement offices--negatively affect a lot of people by their actions. For example:

1. No-shows create an inconvenience for campus recruiters. While you're going about your business, the recruiter is sitting in an interview room in the placement office waiting for you to appear.
2. No-shows cost companies money. A conservative estimate for one half-hour interview is $35 to $45.
3. No-shows represent an embarrassment to their college and university placement offices. The placement office is often left with the task of apologizing for you.
4. No-shows exclude other deserving students from consideration for jobs. Remember that friend of yours who wanted to interview with ABC Company but was told the schedule was full?
5. No-shows hurt themselves. While college placement offices do not appear to have a uniform policy regarding no-shows, some apply a "three strikes and you're out" rule--that is, if a student misses three appointments, he or she can no longer use the services of the placement office. Others suspend students from on-campus interviewing or initiate some form of probationary period in response to a specified number of no-shows. A letter of apology from the student no-show to the company recruiter might also be required. And keep in mind that even if you send such a letter, you've made a less-than-positive impression on the company by not showing up for the interview.
6. Certainly there are legitimate reasons for missing an interview. In fact, you shouldn't interview just for "practice." But there is no excuse for overlooking common courtesy. If you cannot make your interview appointment, notify your placement office as soon as possible.