Should I re-recruit?
Hey everyone, I’m generally new to the wso community so I thought I’d see if anyone had any helpful advice. Here’s my story, I’ll try to keep it as brief as possible. Went to a non target my first year of college, wasn’t interested in recruiting for finance until the end of my freshman year. I transferred into a semi target in state for my sophomore year. I got into I’d say a B tier club here (ppl still place at this club, just not so much and as prestigious as the A tier clubs at my school). However, recruiting has gone honestly horrible for me. Have had a good amount of networking calls, and some of the banks I had referrals to I didn’t even get a first round. The furthest I got was a superday for a middle market bank, which I did not end up getting the offer unfortunately. The superday went well, so I can’t really think of a reason as to why I didn’t get it other than it just wasn’t meant to be. So now I’m kind of stuck. My second semester of sophomore year is approaching the midpoint, and I have no leads for SA 2027 placement, and frankly have gotten kind of discouraged. At this point I am willing to expand my scope to corporate/commercial banking roles as well, as I am getting kind of desperate. However I was thinking about just extending my graduation by a semester and that would give me an opportunity to re recruit for SA 2028 roles. Is this something I should do, or should I keep looking for my current cycle roles? Any advice would be welcome
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Which school?
Don’t really want to say, but my school is a top 10 public uni. That’s about all I’ll say
Congrats on UVA
clearly UVA
I might do this as well (recruit for SA28' and FT). Recruiting has been brutal. Just finished an SD at a dog bowl firm and got the rejection today. I started applying to any job posting with "Finance" in the title. I feel very prepared; however, I can't stand Zoom interviews where 2 random bankers are looking at me (80/20 | Sad/Mad). I realistically don't have a plan if I don't land something for 27', and it's getting quite scary. For reference, I am non-target. These banks just don't fw me.
Yea man our recruiting cycle was fucking brutal lol. Idk why class of 2028 is cracked. This years recruiting class at my school set a record number of kids landing BB and EB compared to previous years, which honestly kinda makes me feel worse lol. As for full time placement not to sure how the process works and for when these applications open. If you have any insight about that I’d appreciate it.
I was talking with a girl who received a FT offer from Citi (she interned as a SA at another bank), and she told me FT recruiting is almost entirely networking based. Like most places don’t even post job openings. To get an offer you need to be networking. It’s not like SA recruiting where you can attend a target school that has OCR, go to an info session, apply and get a R1 with minimal/no coffee chats—though networking is still super useful and increasingly necessary for SA recruiting
That’s actually pretty helpful. In the emails you send to bankers, would you just say your interested in FT recruiting, or just say you’re interested in abc bank?
Personally, I would say you’re interested in hearing more about their background. Name dropping FT recruiting in the email feels too transactional. But in the email (and when you’re introducing yourself on the call) discuss you’re background and mention that you’re a SA at [insert firm name] so they catch on that you’re interested in FT recruiting. At the end of the call, you could ask if there’s anyone else on their team you should speak to OR ask “I was wondering if there is anything I can do to support my candidacy for FT recruiting at your firm.” Honestly, if there are any seniors at your school that have recruited for FT successfully, definitely reach out for a coffee chat to get advice. I’ll also note that already having IB experience during your junior summer makes FT recruiting MUCH more feasible. Banks don’t want to hire people they’ll have to train a bunch (and IB experience means you know how to model and navigate the IB landscape with super long hours, demanding seniors, and unforgiving staffers).
all about opportunity cost, I know quite a few people that were able to go from no name shops/not in FO roles for their SA into FO roles recently. Ultimately if you are willing to put in the elbow crease youll end up there after grad
Appreciate the advice. However, I am kind of unfamiliar as to how FT recruiting works. Any information on timelines for FT recruiting would be helpful.
There’s no set timeline as I’ve seen kids get seats in 2H of senior year etc. in general you should be trying to network and feel out by week 5/6 of SA to see what’s available across the seat immediately following the end of SA. Keep your head up high and fresh throughout the year as no one knows what’ll pop up
Where do the people who interned at a no name shop typically place after FT recruiting?
It is just Joe Smith M&A--> MM or have you seen people go from Joe Smith M&A --> any BB/ good Boutique?
I know someone go from a no name shop --> Top MM --> Top BB Associate but it was in 3.5 years out of college not recruiting FT, just lateraling his way up
Eveniet sit et qui et. Libero est ullam et eveniet.
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