2026 SA and December Grad but FT wont start until following june. Need help.
For context, I am an incoming 2026 SA at one of the upper MM (Baird, Blair, jefferies). I graduate in december of 2026 and HR told me that a January start date is unlikely. That being said I have 6 months of basically nothing from that december to june and I am torn between what to do with my time. I am hoping for anyone with experience to influence me a little. Here are my options:
Do nothing and travel the world for the 6 months. Self explanatory.Try to find a FT role for 6 months in an adjacent role and quit in june.. is that even a thing? Anyone ever heard of this?Shop around for FT openings in August at other shops leveraging my experience + return offer (hopefully). What roles should I look at?Anyone with experience or just any insight, I would love some feedback. Cheers!
Not sure if you are in US and if it's common in the US, but in UK a lot of people in this situation will do a 6-month off-cycle internship. No return stress + keep yourself busy + learning something new
Interesting. I am in the US. The only issue would be that I won’t be technically a “student” anymore so I wouldn’t be able to do an actual paid internship it would have to be unpaid and “informal” if you will. Not that it is a bad thing, just might be different then what UK students are allowed to do. I was debating this route as well.
In a similar situation and this was what I was leaning towards to. Do a 4-6 month off cycle internship in the UK and then afterwards travel through Asia. This is possible as there are US Finance companies that have offices in UK that will accept recent grads for off cycle internships.
Idk what all the stress is. Just spend time with ur family and enjoy ur life man. why would u want to work before you have to. If u need money just find a super chill job and spend a bunch of time w ur fam, and then travel in the warmer months.
Yeah fair enough. I feel like this is the obvious answer... just wanted to make sure it is the right one.
My younger cousin was in the same exact situation in 2022. For the 6 months, he just worked at a local golf course. Great tips, flexible hours, free rounds on days off. He loved it. Made an extra 12K before moving to the city. Not a bad gig.
Debated that as well. Part of me feels like I may regret not doing some cooks things before I sign my time away for the foreseeable future.
Dec 25 grad here. I'm from NYC so living at home, but definitely think the break before starting is worth it unless you have crazy student loans/need the money immediately. You probably won't have a similar amount of freedom for years so live life while you can
Did the exact same thing as you - and definitely had exensital dread about how to 'productively' use that time. I'd tell my past self:
This is the ONLY extended period of life where it is socially acceptable to do absolutely nothing. So if as an individual, you were stripped completely of any societal obligation to make money, have utility, or be anything (employed or student nevertheless), what would you do? Obviously financial context matters, but I'm assuming you are the average well accomplished graduate that will be making plenty in a few months' time.
What could you make out of yourself, or what could you give back to the world? Treat it like a little experiment.
Here's what I did:
(1) travel the world with childhood home being base
(2) get serious about personal investing / learn deeper technicals to keep brain refreshed + future proof CFAs
(3) revisited highschool pursuits (sports, instruments, videogames) I forfeited through college
(4) get in shape
(5) some startup work to keep connected with some friends back at campus
If you had to do nothing, what would you do?
Exact same situation. I’m looking forward to those 6 months and if I already have an offer for FT, I see no reason to add stress to my life. Tentative plan is to visit China for 3-4 weeks then shorter stops in Singapore, Turkey, and maybe some other place. Currently no travel buddy so if you want to tag along feel free to dm lol.
The time at home will be spent in the gym, with family, and doing all the things I won’t have near as much time for once FT starts.
Any idea when ur hitting china? Have a short late march trip planned n can give u some places
Unsure but definitely after Chinese new year probably late Feb early March. Current plan is Beijing-Xian-zhangjiajie-Chongqing
Neat! I’m actually pretty interested, lol. I’ll shoot you a pm.
I had multiple plans for different places to travel to but china is extremely high on my bucket list.
Ut molestias officia culpa fugit ut eos architecto voluptatem. Aliquid saepe non reiciendis. Quae quod ex ut omnis dignissimos id. Esse voluptatum ut quo nulla ipsum qui cumque. Voluptatem omnis blanditiis id voluptatibus laboriosam. Qui provident consectetur est.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...