CURRENT NON-TARGET 2nd Year Feeling Lost in the Recruitment Process
Currently a sophomore at an East Coast good school but mega non-target, feeling very lost in recruiting for 2027 in NY. I networked very aggressively from August to December, speaking with around 130–150 bankers (using the thought process of more people = more referrals) Mainly with alumni and any random connections I could find(I'm not from the east coast). I’ve had a few first-round interviews (William Blair, Raymond James, BMO, Barclays.) and 2 Superdays, and one most likely will not get my most recent Superday at RBC that I had last week and still haven't received a call(there famous for hearing back very quickly). A lot of the banks I networked with seem to not be taking any kids from my type of school, which feels like a very unique problem, and my networking was essentially useless.
I’m unsure what to do. I have a great internship this coming summer and was lucky enough to get into a unique process at a boutique investment bank that I just received the offer two weeks ago (think Moelis, PWP, Evercore, Lazard) in a weird regional office that is extremely unlikely to give a return offer. I already updated my network and HR, but it seems nobody really cared, and it feels like it’s too late.
I’m stressed because recruiting seems to be ramping down, and I don’t have any active processes moving right now, all of my hireviews and my one existing first round I did in January for a BB is stagnant. I’m unsure if I should start networking again or just keep my head down and get ready for future interviews.
Feeling very lost in the recruitment process and worried I’m not going to have a 2027 offer.
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you have time reach out to boutiques apply to everything finance related
There is always FT recruitment the August going into your senior year. Additionally, MM banks can recruit all the way into the fall prior to the summer. Meaning summer 2026 SA roles open in Fall 2025. Keep an eagle eye out on LinkedIn and keep networking in the MM space.
Thank you, this is great advice, I really appreciate it.
No problem. Also, if your goal is investment banking no matter what, WSP has a list of 300 regional/mm banks in the US. Would take you a month max to email all of them. Most I talked to recruit the fall before the summer so you have plenty of time.
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Not impossible at all. FT recruiting is mainly done via referrals and the applications are up for 2 weeks max. If you can network hard enough you have a shot. Your first priority should be keeping an eye out for MM banks recruiting the fall prior, though.
what’s ur opinion on delaying grad date to re-recruit?
I am in favor. I know plenty who did that and it worked out. Worst case you grad 5 months later and get to chill until ur following june start date. Also, can leverage the return offer and recruit at a better bank if needed for FT and not have to stress about much.
Interesting, thanks for the insight. Would you still consider re-recruiting by delaying grad year if you had a MM SA IB offer in NYC, or just re-recruit FT or lateral in that case for EB/BB opps?
In that case, that’s really up to your tolerance for putting off work. Basically ur asking is the trade off of not working for a year and delaying life, basically, worth re-recruiting for a better role. I’m assuming you are implying you would extend graduation to recruit to use that summer.
Personally, I would just take the mm SA role and shoot for FT recruiting cycle that August. If you don’t get anything better, Owell. Lateraling is not the end of the world - people do it all the time.
Just network really hard for the ft recruiting window. If nothing, do a year or two at a mm then lateral at the associate level. Keep connections.
What school?
If I am reading this correctly, you have an upcoming internship at Moelis/Lazard/PWP/Evercore and are concerned about not getting a call back from William Blair/RJ/BMO/RBC albeit for 27 SA?
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