Applying to Jobs in Senior Year

I'm currently finishing a year- long internship in Corporate Strategy and will be returning to school in the fall; however, I am trying to make the transition to MM IB or CB.

I am unsure as to how I should approach job applications.

While I have begun networking, I am unsure as to when I should start applying. Do I apply to openings now and risk that companies are looking for an immediate hire (to which I would have to of course decline -- pissing off recruiters), or would applying be okay?

Should I be applying to student- specific positions?

Any help is appreciated here as to when I should start sending out apps.

9 Comments
 

I just graduated last month and I was applying to positions until mid-May, so I can give you some insight. Don't apply yet unless the position is specifically asking for 2019 grads or it's posted on your school's career website. Applying to other entry-level positions will be a waist of time, until at least 6 months before you'll able to start. You'll gain much more traction 2-3 months ahead of graduation, simply because these positions arise because hiring managers want help ASAP.

 
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You very well might end up getting more traction in the last few months before graduating, but I'd highly recommend that you not wait until then to start applying. There's a lot of unpredictability and luck in recruiting, and it's generally easier (and less stressful) to recruit while still in school, even compared to recent grad.

To the extent that you're targeting 2019 summer start dates for IB, any leftover full-time slots will likely be filled by the end of summer/early fall 2018 after interns have accepted/turned down offers. If that's your goal, you need to be networking and getting in front of people now.

For non-IB, I'd still recommend starting asap, as many companies will start positing positions soon for Summer 2019 starts. You may not see positions that interest you now, but I'd suggest checking your school's job posting or linkedin, or whatever regularly (say every couple days)

You can afford to be pickier now, but definitely don't wait until spring to start

 

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