Is there a rough non-target recruiting timeline?
I'm from a non-target interested in both finance and consulting (but finance much more so). Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like target kids start recruiting earlier? Like they'd see Handshake stuff first & get offers first etc. Lowkey makes me bummed af because I always have to scour for my own info lol (yes I get that comes with being from a non-target but it feels rough af). What should I look for timeline-wise for the next cycle? Many apps seem to open Spring/early Summer? How could I get to firms that are reclusive af and don't give any more information than "contact your non-existent campus recruiter" and never post application links? Do I try to apply as early as possible anyway if that's "not my cycle" per se? Does being a diversity candidate put me in a seperate timeline? I'm quite lost and our career center is not the most helpful lol. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated!
General timeline from someone who broke into IB from a serious non-target
Freshman year-sophomore year fall: intense networking- try to talk to as many people at as many different shops as possible in order to get on their radars
Sophomore year spring: beginning of cycle- most EBs will kick off recruiting at this point as well as a few larger shops (Citi, CS, RBC) and it is crucial that you have already networked with these shops by this point as the early timeline leads everyone and their mother to send in apps to these places
Late sophomore spring: MMs open up their applications, some other BBs open up their apps- by this point, you should have had multiple phone calls with a number of people and have a good feel for where your best chances are. This time period is very volatile and different banks will go at different speeds so it is vital that you stay in touch with all of your contacts to know when their banks kick off recruitment
Sophkmore summer going into junior year: More MMs open up applications as well as GS/JPM/some other BBS- at this point your schedule will be very hectic as you will hopefully have numerous first rounds/superdays/networking falls in addition to whatever internship you have. Given the later starting date, it is assumed that you have networked significantly by this point. For GS, you will be able to have a superday on the day their apps open to the public (7/1) if you are a URM and apply to their insight programs. Make sure to be having ongoing conversations with your connections at this point to know where you are in the processes and to see if when apps are opening/how many spots are left after OCR
Junior year fall: last of the MMs will be recruiting at this point but there will be regional boutiques that begin to recruit. It is important to connect with some smaller shops as a hedge against the recruiting process. Smaller shop processes will vary significantly by location.
TLDR: Network, network, network- it is the only thing that you can control and is vital to every part of the recruitment process
Hi thank you so much for taking the time to write that detailed response! I am a diversity candidate but I'm also an international student so I feel like sometimes it's quite the setback - I've had conversations where upon learning that fact people shy away from wanting to refer me :/ Would you say I should reveal that when networking or is that a thing specifically for HR only?
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