Navigating ER Sector Placement Process

Hello guys. I have seen a lot of threads on what the best ER sectors might be, but not threads on how to get assigned a specific sector. I am an incoming ER associate at a BB and my understanding is that the process is: training for a month or two -> networking with various desks -> a mutually agreed placement at a specific desk. Does anyone have insights on this process and how to best set yourself up for success? Should I already be starting to reach out to analysts now (6 months ahead of start date) to start building the relationships? What can I do to stand out during the networking phase? Thanks!