When to start reaching out to regional boutiques for 2016 summer?

Currently in sophomore year, when should I start contacting firms? Ideally I would like to get my second year first semester GPA on there, but I'm afraid if I wait till Jan a lot of the slots will be filled up.

14 Comments
 

boutiques are primarily on a informal structure, because they hire on an on the need basis. Im sure that it couldn't hurt to start now and building your network out.

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Best Response

On one hand, a bit early to be really effective / remembered at game time, but I personally have always thought people who knew what they wanted and reached out early got some brownie points. Adds a bit more credibility when then come back later and are still committed.

Only advice would be make sure you are polished before you reach out. Sometime people are too eager and aren't properly prepared to network and get dinged. That would be an unfortunate counter-productive result.

Sweet spot for summer 2016 would be Oct / Nov 2015 IMHO. Close enough to recruiting / short list events, but early enough to be "proactive".

 

What are some ways that applicants could get dinged this early in the networking process?

Just general weirdness or not knowing what they want?

 

One way to look at things is to get your name out there now, and follow up once it gets closer to recruiting season.

 

I'm a rising junior as well.

Personally, I have spent the last few weeks preparing myself for the upcoming IBD recruitment season. I have been focusing on going through my contact sheet and targeting the individuals I will be reaching out to first. As of now I have been contacting alumni in junior analyst roles because A) for the most part these will be the individuals that will grill you the hardest, which is great practice, and B) since they are in junior positions they can't help as much as there higher ups can in referring your name for a SA role.

So practice on the little fish now, so when its game time you are ready to kill it. Make your mistakes now because you can still afford it. If you wait till Oct/Nov to start networking you will be miles behind individuals like me that already started grinding.

 

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