How to lateral for FT

With a return offer, you'll have no problem setting up interviews with groups that have the headcount after the summer. Reach out to your network and get in touch with the staffers at groups in which you're interested.

Not sure if that's true. I also work at JPM and I think you are given a group specific offer. So, if you don't like your group, you could be in trouble. I'm sorry man that's a rough situation.

For internal transfer - would network and keep it on the DL at least until you receive your offer, them bombs away.

For external - should be networking now to make sure youre on firms' radars come early August (accelerated interview time)

Money4Life:

Not sure if that's true. I also work at JPM and I think you are given a group specific offer. So, if you don't like your group, you could be in trouble. I'm sorry man that's a rough situation.

To clarify, I meant groups outside of JPM. In my experience, when you have a return offer from a recognized firm, basically all other screening standards are thrown to the wayside. That doesn't guarantee you an offer or anything, but you will have a great shot at getting an interview.

ricottacheese:

For internal transfer - would network and keep it on the DL at least until you receive your offer, them bombs away.

For external - should be networking now to make sure youre on firms' radars come early August (accelerated interview time)

This. Ironically, I would say that you have to be more delicate with internal moves, so looking externally is usually the better option.

Wait so what exactly do I tell people externally? Do I just tell them I don't like things at JPM and am interested for full time? Or should the tone be more a let's catch up kind of thing?

Also with the JPM people, do I just tell the guys in the group I'm targeting that I'm not necessarily interested in leaving my current group but am just interested in hearing more about their group? Then, when I get my offer, tell them I want it changed to be for their group?

I'd avoid making your intentions clear to other groups in JPM until after you receive the offer. Hang out/network with other JPM groups until then, but do not tell them you're unhappy with your group or are looking to switch because word will spread fast and then you may lose your FT offer. On the other hand with other banks I'd go ahead and start networking in early July and then follow up with everyone the first week of August because that's when accelerated interviews start. When networking do NOT badmouth your group or say anything negative about your coworkers/group. Act like it was a super positive experience but you think you'd enjoy their bank/group even more. If you convey the same attitude/story (although I completely understand it) as you did in the OP you will not fare well.

I'd also consider reaching out to top groups as mid-tier BBs as you're probably better off in the best group at CS than a mediocre group at JPM (and lateraling to GS/MS for FT is almost impossible except for in boom times).

Externally, never shit-talk your firm, and don't say you don't like it, as it will raise concerns. Just go with the classic, ambiguous 'not a good fit culturally', and say you're interested in [insert bank] because of [reasons x, y, z]. Keep it positive.

Internal moves are difficult... you will most likely piss a few people off in your current group no matter what you do. Just keep on the DL, and try to network with people in the group you are targeting.

APAE:

JPM has a day in the last week where you're allowed to indicate one group of your preference that you'd like to 'sit with' for the day. Ostensibly, it's a chance for you to just get a taste for something different within the division, but that's the primary internal mobility tool as far as I understand it.

To move externally, the biggest thing is to portray your current experience in the most positive light possible. No one wants to hire someone who badmouths their current/former employer, because it automatically makes them think that they could be the one you're badmouthing sometime in the future. Frame it positively ... you really enjoy your experience there so far, you're happy to have seen x-deal and y-project and gotten the opportunity to work on z-team, but you aren't certain that it's a cultural fit. Because you know x-person from such-and-such a place (alumni, networking, met them at a conference, mentor, etc.), you've heard such excellent things about their firm or group and are interested in pursuing a full-time opportunity there.

As long as you have an offer, it's easy to shop around. That doesn't mean getting hired is easy; headcount is tight everywhere and there are people at stronger groups also looking around just for the hell of it. With a recognizable name on your resume though, it's important to do two things: crush the summer to make sure you get a return offer, and begin proactively networking with people now so that as August rolls around, you're well-positioned for accelerated recruiting. They try to get these things done the week or two after the summer program ends (in better hiring years it even happened during the last week at some places) before people leave the city for school.

Exactly this.