Ever notice how some people land jobs quickly—sometimes within days—while others apply for months?
Often times, it's because they found a “just-in-time hiring” opportunity—roles that companies need to fill immediately, outside of a traditional hiring cycle. Positions are posted, and candidate selection decisions are made quickly.
Just-in-time hires usually occur when someone quits unexpectedly, a company suddenly grows, or a project needs urgent help. In these situations, employers don’t have time to search for a "perfect" candidate. Instead, they need a capable and available one.
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So, how can you be ready and positioned to land a just-in-time hiring opportunity? |
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Be Ready Before You Apply. Speed and timing matter in these situations. Make sure you have these ready to go so you can apply at a moment's notice:
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Search in the Right Places. Just-in-time jobs often don’t stay posted for long. Frequently check job boards (filter by “recently posted”), individual company career pages, your LinkedIn feed, and RIT's Career Connect. With any job search, the key is persistence. Check boards every day, even if it's just for 10 minutes.
- Use Direct Outreach, and this is where most students miss out. We have mentioned in previous newsletters the power of networking and outreach. If you see a role you are interested in, message a recruiter or hiring manager on Linkedin.
Make sure that you keep your message short: who you are, why you’re interested, and what you’ve applied for specifically. This signals urgency and makes you stand out immediately.
Companies hiring quickly want people who can start quickly. Make it clear to them, with phrases like “available to start immediately.” This alone can move you ahead of other candidates. - Focus on Practical Skills. In urgent or just-in-time hires, employers are looking for whether a person can do the job right now. Be specific. Confidence and clarity win here. To do this, highlight relevant work, projects, or any similar experience (even small). Mention skills or tools you already know.
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Be Interview-Ready at All Times. Just-in-time hiring moves fast, sometimes very fast. Always be ready for same-week interviews, minimal rounds (sometimes just one) and often very quick decisions. Have a few stories ready about your experience, teamwork, and problem-solving. If you have not already, connect with Eric Dixon to start prepping your star stories.
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In truth, just-in-time roles aren’t always perfect. They might be short-term, less structured, or even a bit chaotic. However, they offer something incredibly valuable: a foot in the door.
Your action steps for preparing for a just-in-time hire:
✔ Update your resume and LinkedIn
✔ Check job listings daily
✔ Apply within 24 hours
✔ Reach out directly when possible
✔ Emphasize immediate availability
You don’t always need to be the most qualified candidate. Sometimes, you just need to be the right person at the right time and ready to go. That’s the power of just-in-time hiring. If you wait until you see the job to prepare, you're already behind.
If you have any questions, make sure you are connecting with Eric Dixon, Career Services Coordinator in Career Services or Brad Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean, Office of Student Services.
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| COLA Next Steps Workshops |
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Stellar COLA Alumni Offer Real Life Tips for Career Launching Success |
Virtual Event with Watch Party and Free Pizza Dinner
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 7– 8:30 p.m.
Magic Spell Studios, Wegmans Theater
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Join the College of Liberal Arts for a virtual alumni panel featuring graduates who have turned their liberal arts degrees into dynamic and successful careers.
Panelists will share their professional journeys, reflect on how their time at RIT prepared them, and offer valuable advice for students exploring their own paths. While the panel will be held virtually, you are invited to attend an in-person watch party with dinner—an opportunity to connect with peers while gaining insights and inspiration from alumni.
Free pizza dinner at 7 p.m.
Virtual panel 7:30–8:30 p.m.
Learn more >
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Learn about the range of jobs and professionals employed by New York State and Monroe County plus get the scoop on how to search and apply for positions.
Monroe County Hiring Infosession
Monday, April 13, 2026, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Lowenthal Building, 1115/1120
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LEARN MORE > careers.sharkninja.com/search-jobs
SharkNinja is growing extremely fast! The overall company is only about 4,000 employees at all sites, but at one point in time this year, they had over 300 open roles. As a result, they are very interested in expanding the relationship with RIT and other schools to get more students into entry level roles, and they tend to hire through their co-op pipeline.
Because their team is fairly small, they will not be doing much on-campus presence for recruitment but instead will try to do an info session or virtual recruitment this fall.
They try to do most of their Spring/Summer and Summer recruiting in September. They mentioned that they were slammed with late requests, so there are 42 open co-ops and internships for Summer and Summer/Fall still on their job board!
All technical roles are eligible for CPT and OPT for full-time!
Summer 2026: App Product Development Intern (June through August)
Needham, MAIoT, Engineering03/20/2026
Fall 2026: Technical Project Management Co-op (July through December)
Needham, MAIoT, Engineering03/20/2026
Summer 2026: Mobile App Developer Intern (May to August)
Needham, MAEngineering, R&D02/17/2026
Summer 2026: UX Design Intern (May to August)
Needham, MAIndustrial, Design02/11/2026
Fall 2026: Product Development Co-op, Shark Beauty (July to December)
Needham, MAProduct, Development01/29/2026
Fall 2026: Strategic Planning Operations Co-op, New Product Development (July to December)
Needham, MACommercial, Planning01/23/2026
Fall 2026: Creative Operations Co-op (July to December)
Needham, MACreative, Services01/22/2026
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NBC Universal 2026 / 2027 Internship Information Session Series
April 21, 22, 23 |
SIGN UP Now, Registration Required >
POSITIONS AVALABLE: Co-op
MAJORS OF INTEREST: All Majors
SERIES TOPICS & DATES:
Streaming, TV & Filmed Entertainment, Tuesday, 4/21 - 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
News, Sports, & Ad Sales, Wednesday, 4/22 - 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Technology + Data Science & Analytics, Thursday, 4/23 - 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
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