2026 IB Recruitment Strategy Terror

The title says it all. I'm utterly terrified that I may be approaching recruitment in a needlessly risky way.

For context, I'm a Finance undergrad set to graduate in 2026. I've been networking heavily, leveraging the company data base of the bank I currently work at as a retail banker (think TD). I've really built some good relationships and feel like I could definitely land a role come Summer of 2026 (I missed the window for Summer 2025). I've focused on building relationships with individuals in a few key groups of interest but I have the capability to essentially get in touch with every group within our IBD.

Where my personal horror comes is a problem I've created in two parts;

1.) I have no really relevant prior experience at least as far as the technical side is concerned

2.) I've severely neglected outside networking

So what I'm really asking the much wiser Monkeys of the WSO community is should I continue to really focus on deepening ties with my current company with the hope of locking in a role come 2026? Or should I very quickly start casting a wide net with various regional boutiques seeing if I can get anything relevant in 2025?

I'm a little daunted at the thought of going to an outside company as I'm responsible for my own expenses not to mention the culture internally seems to be great to the extent I can glean. But I know that breaking in is my top priority. 

I plan to network outside the company but I'm wondering if it's more valuable for me to aggressively pursue more internal relationships or if I should more aggressively pursue casting a wide net.

Much thanks to anyone who can give insights.