I’m an incoming undergrad freshman (business @ target) and I want to work in IB. What should I be doing now, and what do I need to be keeping track of so I don’t end up realizing I’m too late?
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To set yourself up for success in investment banking (IB) recruiting as an incoming freshman at a target school, here’s what you should focus on:
1. Academics First
2. Join Relevant Organizations
3. Networking
4. Freshman Year Internships
5. Technical Skills
6. Stay Informed
7. Plan Ahead
By focusing on these steps, you’ll position yourself well for IB recruiting. Remember, consistency and early preparation are key!
Sources: UCLA Undergrad for IB Recruiting, As a freshman what should I be doing?, What to do Pre-MBA to prepare for IB recruiting, Navigating Recruiting at Target Schools, IB Prospect Groupchat - Open to All
quick google search shows this article which is pretty good: investment banking recruiting guide
freshman year is a good time to be asking this, most people don't start thinking about it until they're already behind.
junior-summer SA recruiting sets the whole timeline, and some applications open as early as January of your sophomore year. work backwards from there. sophomore fall already needs your networking and technicals in decent shape, which means the sophomore insight days and early-ID programs feeding that pipeline, open in spring and summer of freshman year, are the dates people miss.
keep freshman year itself simple. protect your GPA, get accounting done before sophomore fall, and apply to the one or two clubs at your school that genuinely place people into IB. a junior can tell you which ones those are.
honestly, the best use of your time this year is buying coffee for upperclassmen who just finished recruiting and asking what they'd do differently. every school's answer is different, so skip the generic prep guide and ask around your own campus.
the summer after freshman year doesn't need to be an internship. a class you actually got something out of, or a project you stuck with, does the same job, and staying involved with a club past freshman year counts too. same goes for technicals, skip the LBO grind in your dorm in September. that stuff only takes a focused month or two once interviews are close.
What do I need to do to prepare for club applications I heard they are competitive at my school. Also thank you for the thoughtful response.
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