When is the best time to start networking for FT?
^
Trending Content - Job Search Advice Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
June 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
After you start your SA program at whichever firm you're at. You definitely want to make sure that you get a return offer there even if you have no intention of staying because FT recruiters will want to see that you at least got that. You also are going to want to be able to craft a good story as to why you're FT recruiting and not staying at the firm you SA at, and it should be a better reason than just prestige/exits (even if that's the main reason).
You should hopefully have at least a few somewhat good connections at other firms from when you were networking for SA, so that could be a place to start. I'd say start networking around July.
Qui ea qui cupiditate velit optio est voluptas. Architecto occaecati laborum explicabo facilis. Ut voluptatem esse illo odit et deleniti illum ratione. Et maiores voluptatibus debitis sed rerum. Autem id voluptatem sunt illum inventore eveniet.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Itaque quo at asperiores incidunt eligendi necessitatibus enim. Est nihil voluptas sint natus asperiores voluptate.
Et rerum fugiat quidem ea enim sed. Voluptatem ipsum ea non nam impedit. Tempora sapiente accusamus ipsa veniam architecto quo vel. Consequatur ut rem est quia omnis. Minima laudantium officia quibusdam est.
Cumque veritatis enim nulla. Dolores cum nihil ut vero suscipit. Corrupti eveniet debitis illum et quasi.