When is the typical start month for FT employees right after graduation?

Hey guys, I was just wondering when the typical start month for full-time employees coming straight out of undergrad is. In different areas of business, I have friends who started as early as July and others who started in September or October. Is it usually a negotiable thing, or do firms give you a date?

Thanks, and happy new year to all.

122 Comments
 

My firm sent out a survey with 3 options, the earliest being in August. I've heard of previous analysts that successfully requested for a not-on-the-menu June start date. This was something that we were recommended to not do, because you would be doing your training out-of-season, which lessens your networking opportunities. If your firm puts together a big analyst training event, I would ask around to see when everyone else is starting. Good luck!

 

For consulting, I've heard of anything from June to January. Firms usually have a few choices and there's some criteria for determining who gets priority of their choices. Start dates usually align with global training sessions, which the larger the firm, the more of which there will be.

 

For MS/Citi/GS, we had training starting end-June 2012 in NY...the week of 23rd June.

I remember merrill being a month later, and JPM was in september (not very sure abt JPM).

After the 1-2 months of training we started work proper back in our assigned locations.

 
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My bank started in mid June, with two weeks of training. My first "real" day of work was the Monday after the July 4th weekend (all of which I spent in the office working).

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 
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whateverittakesCaptK, are you at a boutique, mid-market, or BB? Perhaps it's the rigid, bureaucratic nature of BBs that make their training programs longer.
I used to work at a MM firm. 2-3 weeks is pretty typical for MM firms I think, BB banks tend to go a little longer.
- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

Earliest I've seen of all the major banks is mid-June. Don't know what bank you're going to, but if you haven't heard by now, something's weird on the administrative front. I found out in January and all my other friends starting out have already heard as well.

“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 

I understand where you're coming from, OP - but worry about getting that offer before you worry too much about the next step. A wise man once said "don't put the cart before the horse."

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 
ghoshtUBS-July 9th. at least u will be in London, right?

Nope. Ibanking analysts are the only ones who don't go to London. Everyone else, including HR, Ops, Markets etc. does, but us

 

Does anyone know when MS/GS/JPM have training? All in NY for all analysts I assume?

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

Lol I actually get out mid-June. I think you could delay it, but don't take my word for it. They're flexible with early starts for people who graduate a semester early, so I don't see why they wouldn't allow someone to start in, say, August. It shouldn't impact their efficiency significantly to let you delay if they're hiring entire classes nine months in advance and have analysts getting headhunted left and right for PE and other buy-side.

Make Idaho a Semi-Target Again 2016 Not an alumnus of Idaho
 

I don't think most banks will let you delay start. They only allow early starts (in unique situations) because that won't affect the group training that everyone new has to go through.

If you get out late May, you certainly have enough time to go backpacking in Europe (and I would highly encourage it - not doing something like that is a regret of mine). The question really is whether you have enough time to do something like 10 days vs. a month. Just contact older analysts or HR and ask for the start date.

 
Best Response

Training programs are, for the most part, M-F gigs that run from 9-6 plus some homework depending on what portion you are in. There are also usually networking events at least once a week, presentations from bankers, etc.

They generally begin Mid-June with the goal to have FTs start within a day or two of SAs getting the boot. So, if the firm in question has a 10 week training program with a rotation to London (bastards) then they will start earlier than the 3 week crash course firm.

By this point, if you have an FT offer, you should be receiving your sign-on/relocation bonus and around the same time finding out start date, taking quizzes ahead of time etc. Something to keep in mind, many firms will allow you to opt out of an intro program into accounting (like 2 days ahead of the normal training start) if you test well. This is PAID TIME if you go, but not if you don't. The daily pretax rate for someone earning $60k is ~$165, if you don't have anything better to do GOTO THE TRAINING, they pay you to be bored and read the paper.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

Associate training programs, by and large, take place immediately after the analyst program. There is a lot more variability in terms of the type of training given to associates vs analysts. Basically all analysts on the street get the same training by the same firms if you goto a BB. Its always a joke among internal promotes that they get a nice long free vacation between analyst and associate by means of a training program they get absolutely nothing out of except networking.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

this summer's training dates as far as i know

jul 14: UBS, DB jul 21: GS

something i'd like to know is: i've been told we'd be getting work to do pre-training and we'll be getting tested on various things during training. how seriously do people take the results from training? my personal perception is that as long as you're okay on the ground you're fine right?

or do your bosses actually care about a bad mark when in fact the only reason it happened was because you were hanging out with the frankfurt office the night before?

 

UBS and ms are 7/7 On a side not, why would cs start on 7/3 when the next day is a holiday? I guess it's not a holiday in switzerland...

 

The mid July dates appear to be for London, I know GS London starts mid July, and I believe CS starts mid July as well. I infer that mid july is for London since gomes states that CS starts on July 3rd, and I heard from friends that CS starts on the second week here in London.

During my interview process I started sucking up to an interviewer by praising the FT analyst summer training; he told me that I won't learn anything during the program, and that I should use the program like the last summer vacation I'll ever get. Unless you fuck up your FSA (or SEC) exams, no one will care; and even so they let you retake it a gazillion time. It just won't look too good. (A buddy of mine failed his FSA exam the first time he took it...)

Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend

 

is this before or after your offer gets rescinded?

db is usually the earliest around june (from my buddies that went there a few years ago)

most other firms are in the beginning of july. some have earlier/additional training for non-finance/accounting majors.

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ExecutionOur grads are starting 17-18th August.

wtf..start dates in august?

Banking or Capital Markets?

The world has changed. And we must change with it.

------------ I'm making it up as I go along.
 
Cornelius
ExecutionOur grads are starting 17-18th August.

wtf..start dates in august?

Banking or Capital Markets?

The world has changed. And we must change with it.

Banking. We just found out they'll be coming in for a few days on those dates, then off to New York for 7 weeks training, then back with us on 9th October.

One BB has always been later than the others.

 

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- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

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