Deferring FT Start Date - MM

Currently an incoming analyst at a (“top”) MM (Baird, HL, WB, PSC, etc).  
 

At the end of this year (junior year going into SA), a close relative passed away which caused me to take a step back from school, and now I’ll be graduating at least one semester late. 
 

In anyone’s experience, are banks somewhat flexible in allowing interns to delay their full time start date? I’ve heard that joining off cycle is somewhat not applicable so would I be trying to delay by a full year and join the following analyst class? 
 

Wondering how I should approach this - should I be open right now with HR and explain the situation or wait until after (hopefully) receiving an offer and then ask to delay my start date and alert them to the situation? 

I was also - before this situation - trying to lateral locations within the bank or even lateraling banks for FT. Is that no longer in play given I’m not recruiting for on cycle FT? 
 

Looking for any advice / anyone’s experience. Thank you 

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

You typically cannot defer willy-nilly, that said... banks will usually work with you if you had some crazy personal circumstance like this.

I wouldn't say a word until you get the offer, and then ask HR for a phone call and explain your situation. Be ready with evidence that you left school / took a personal leave. They are sensitive to people who pretend they are graduating early and use that to get a better sophomore internship. If you can keep it to just 1 semester delay and offer to start in January, that would be better than asking to defer an entire year.

Definitely don't try to move locations in the same breath, you are already using all of your rope by asking to extend. You also won't be on the right timeline for FT recruiting.

 

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