Evaluating Buyside Opportunities? Recruiting tips.

Hi All, 

I hope everyones new year is off to a great start! The title says it all. I'm a senior at uni who is set to start their full time IB role in NYC this July (industry group at an EB for reference). As I prepare for the job, I can't help but also take into account prep for buy side opportunities. I apologize for the elementary nature of some of my questions, but I have little to no knowledge on the recruiting process and would appreciate any feedback.

How did&nbsp;<span class='keyword_link'><a href="/resources/skills/finance/buy-side">you evaluate buyside</a></span> roles? Do you use tools like <span class='keyword_link'><a href="/resources/skills/deals/pitchbook">Pitchbook</a></span> to assess fund performance, industry expertise, etc.? What were the most important factors in your decision?
What’s the typical recruiting timeline? I’ve heard about the intense cycles for Harvard -&gt; <span class='keyword_link'><a href="/company/goldman-sachs"><abbr title="Goldman Sachs">GS</abbr> type</a></span> of kids in May/June — is this&nbsp;becoming standard across all shops?
Is there value in engaging with recruiters and filling out their forms, or is the process mostly driven by internal team referrals?
Did networking help, and how does it compare to <abbr title="investment banking">IB</abbr> recruiting in terms of importance? Obviously, in <abbr title="investment banking">IB</abbr> it was a necessity.
Are there any must-have prep materials, similar to the M&amp;I400, but for PE?

I know answers can vary by shop size, location, and other factors, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance