When is the best time to start networking for FT?
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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.
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