Graduating early. Should I start early?

I got an offer from a BB and was given the option of starting in January/February since I'll be graduating in December. From what I hear, it seems that starting early is a bad decision, but my position is for corporate credit risk and not investment banking. My biggest thought is what they'll do with my training if I start early, because I definitely want to be with the rest of my analyst class.

In general, how flexible would they be in this kind of situation?

If I tell them I want to start in July (The normal starting date) like everyone, what should I tell them I'll be doing in those prior 7 months? Studying for GMAT or CFA? Part time work? Spending time with family relatives?

 
Best Response

I would personally start on time and go travel/backpack around the world for a few months...may not get the chance to again and it's an awesome experience.

If you can't do that for any reason (and can't do another project you'd like to do that takes a while and needs your full attention) I'd definitely start early - you definitely don't need to be not working to do GMAT/CFA etc and no point missing out on work experience and earning money if you're just going to be sticking around town anyway - watching TV and reading and doing whatever else you may want to do at home for 7 months will get old pretty quickly.

If you're interested in living in and seeing another place for a few months and can't afford/don't want to go backpacking around, look into volunteering overseas for a few months in a developing country - lots of your expenses (food, rent etc) will be covered if you find the right organisation/program and all you'll likely have to cover will be spending money and flights. Would be an awesome experience also, and would also be beneficial for b-school applications etc if that's applicable to you down the road.

Personally, I'd backpack for a few months (South America, Europe, maybe Asia) and then I'd love to spend 2-3 months working on a game reserve in South Africa, taking care of lions and elephants and such. Unfortunately I probably won't get the chance to do that for any extended time till I'm retired

 

Training for grads is normally done in batches, so likely you'll just be on the floor working until the rest of the grads start. Then you'll do training with them.

For a corporate credit role, you should be fine hitting the floor without the usual grad training.

I agree with the suggestions that you should take some time off - at least 2-3 months.

Anaconda:
It won't look bad on me if I choose to start on the normal date when I could've done it early?

No. We've got an early graduating ex-SA who was keen to start ASAP and we only agreed to an April start date, as (a) it was a hassle for us having him join early because it didn't align with new grad training programs (see comment above), (b) workflow would be stronger at the typical start date, so likely we'd be paying him to twiddle his thumbs and (c) we thought he should be out enjoying himself, sowing his wild oats etc.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

I have a friend who was in my same situation but ended up taking a part-time internship at a PE firm before starting her analyst job in July. I'm considering doing that too, in addition to some time off for traveling and such, but how likely would any firm accept someone who already has a full-time gig lined up? I know my friend did, but that could've been a one in a million likelihood.

 

Might work in your favour if you can find an internship where there is no possibility for conversion to FT as a way to gain experience. If PE is a goal of yours that's probably a better idea than traveling around the world, but taking the full 6-7 months to travel around the world would be an amazing experience that relatively few people would get to enjoy.

 

Haha, they won't mind if you're lounging around for five months. It's five months they don't have to pay you. Take the time off, relax, travel, do some personal development.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 
  1. They wouldn't have you start early since training is all done at the same time.

  2. They don't care.

  3. They don't care.

Don't tell them, enjoy the time off.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 

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