College Sophomore recruiting for S&T
Mostly looking for whether everything is clear and understandable, and what needs to be refined. I go to a semi-target, any advice appreciated thanks! 
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of what you should focus on as a college sophomore recruiting for Sales & Trading (S&T) from a semi-target school:
1. Clarity of Your Plan
Your plan should be clear and structured. Here's a refined roadmap for S&T recruiting: - Sophomore Year (Now): - Build your GPA: Aim for a strong academic record to stand out. - Network aggressively: Start reaching out to alumni and professionals in S&T roles. Use LinkedIn, school career services, and cold emails to set up informational interviews. - Join relevant clubs: Finance, trading, or investment clubs can help you gain exposure and leadership experience. - Secure a sophomore internship: Ideally, aim for a boutique or regional firm in finance or trading. Even if it’s not S&T-specific, any finance-related experience will help. - Junior Year: - Target BB/MM S&T internships: Use your sophomore internship and networking efforts to position yourself for these roles. - Continue networking: Stay in touch with contacts and expand your network. - Prepare for interviews: Focus on technical skills (market knowledge, mental math, and Excel) and behavioral questions (your story, why S&T, etc.).
2. Networking
Networking is critical, especially from a semi-target. Here’s how to refine your approach: - Be proactive: Send personalized emails to alumni or professionals in S&T. Mention your interest in their career path and ask for advice. - Follow up: After initial conversations, maintain relationships by updating them on your progress or sharing relevant market insights. - Leverage events: Attend finance conferences, diversity summits, or any S&T-specific events to meet professionals.
3. Technical Preparation
S&T interviews often test your market knowledge and technical skills. Refine your preparation by: - Staying updated: Follow financial news (e.g., Bloomberg, WSJ) and understand market trends. - Practicing mental math: Speed and accuracy are crucial for trading roles. - Learning products: Understand different asset classes (equities, fixed income, derivatives, etc.) and their applications. - Mock interviews: Practice with peers or mentors to refine your answers and delivery.
4. Your Story
Refine your personal narrative to make it compelling: - Why S&T? Highlight your interest in markets, fast-paced environments, and problem-solving. - Why you? Showcase your unique skills, such as analytical thinking, communication, and adaptability. - Why this firm? Research the firm’s culture, products, and recent deals to tailor your answer.
5. Internship Strategy
If you’re struggling to secure an S&T-specific internship, consider: - Alternative roles: Look for internships in asset management, wealth management, or even startups with a financial focus. - Part-time opportunities: Explore part-time roles during the school year to build relevant experience. - Self-driven projects: Start a trading portfolio or participate in trading competitions to demonstrate your interest and skills.
6. Refinement Tips
If you have specific questions about any part of the process, feel free to ask! Good luck with your recruiting journey—crush it! 🐒
Sources: Getting an S&T Return Offer - A Survival Guide for Future Interns, Non-Target Recruiting Guide Part I: Resume and Networking, Non-Target Recruiting Guide Part I: Resume and Networking, Advice for a 21-year-old entering BB S&T?, Getting an S&T Return Offer - A Survival Guide for Future Interns
Your first line says "Bachelors in science, accounting with minors in data science" it's 2 different formats. I would suggest just bachelors in science of accounting
Also, "additional class here" gotta remove that. And probably remove a good number of those classes listed. No one on the desk will care if you took business law. List the STEM courses first and foremost.
On your investment analyst intern, one line says "Optimized foot traffic, credit card, and web traffic" inconsistent formatting. Just remove the traffic after foot, and it'll be fine
Your actual work experience seems fine, like you're clearly doing a lot for a sophomore. Just keep it up. As for sophomore recruiting itself, I don't think there are too many sophomore trading internships. I think JPMorgan still does something over summer
Gotcha appreicate those comments, I'm actually recruiting for junior year internships right now alot are already open and most open Jan 1. Thanks again.
Oh, for junior year I believe Barclays, Jeffries, and maybe Stifel have opened apps. Maybe DB too? Those are the ones I've gotten notified of(because linkedin just loves to spam my personal email). Others will open later.
I think ubs still might.
I would alphabetize your interests
Also let’s not pretend being a a timberwolves is that much better than being a Vikings fan
It's a good resume but I suggest making the first work experience more condensed. I know it's a tough ask but it "looks" overwhelming. The first 3 seconds are crucial and if a recruiter feels it looks like too much work, they might just ignore it.
Emphasise your work more than the prestige I would say. I see you're stressed since you go to a semi-target but the third point really stands out. As a trader that caught my attention, but to get there I had to go through some buzzwords you can say.
Also where's your ROI? Or profit? How much has your fund outperformed the S&P? If these are good numbers I strongly suggest you mention it. I once mentioned a 10% ROI for a one-month US markets assignment and I was asked about it in an interview. Didn't matter that it was an assignment. Speaking of, add more numbers in your resume if you can.
In the second work experience, third point.. are you allowed to mention the specific companies?
I suggest shortening the month names. June to Jun etc. If it's in the same year then Jun - Aug 2025. Tidy up your resume and leave white spaces to make it easy to read.
You have a strong profile but I can immediately clock that you're nervous. It's okay, I have a resume like yours (recent grad) and I did the same in my junior year. A recruiter roasted my resume format, in a very "your work is so good, why the hell does your resume look like it's covered by ants??" Ever since then.. let's just say I fixed it real quick
Thanks for the advice - is there any templated/websites I can go to for advice on this condensed formatting and other tips.
My technique is controversial but it worked. I put my bullets in chatgpt and asked it to make the text more concise, attention grabbing and emphasise on the points that recruiters actually care about. Obviously use human discernment to proofread the work but that's the only good option I had. I saw a couple online websites but they essentially do the same thing.
Your template is good, don't worry about that. If you're really looking for more, Harvard uni has a free database for career resources
Not sure what made you think OP is nervous
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