Summer Analyst Drug Test

Can someone please describe the drug screening process of incoming summer analysts? There have been previous posts, however, I figured they are outdated as summer recruiting is always getting pushed up. Answers have been all over the place. I've heard December, 1 month before start, or anytime before you start...

Appreciate all advice about cleansing methods, playing it safe, when to stop etc... but **my question is about the drug screening process and timeline**. I'm more concerned with BB NY IBD SA testing but would also be useful to know about FT, different cities, divisions, etc.

1. How drug screening timelines differ within bulge brackets?
2. How timelines differ within divisions of finance (IBD, S&T, HR)?
3. Does a positive drug test for marijuana result in a rescinded summer anlayst offer, even if legal in state of residence? (Yes, I understand it's a federal crime).

Feel free to answer any or all questions, would be greatly appreciated.

JC

33 Comments
 

I've done these at four different banks (for those who wonder why: 1 summer, 2 full-time and the 4th is a situation where I took an offer at a bank, including drug test, but got hired into another job during my garden leave).

Anyways . . all four were the same for me. They told me to find a Quest Diagnostics near me and get the test done within the next 3-4 days. These were all IBD (1 bulge, 1 MM and 2 boutique) but I highly doubt it would be any different for other divisions of the bank. Very formulaic process.

You can pretty much take it to the bank that a failed test will result in a rescinded offer. What I'm less sure of (but I'm sure somone here knows) is whether they even test for weed.

 
  1. Every bank does it slightly differently ... most either do roughly 1 month before start or right after accepting offer
  2. Same timeline for all divisions ... how would it make sense for a bank to process drug tests at different times for different divisions.
  3. If they didn't care if your test was positive or negative, why would they even test you? If you really did get a BB IBD SA offer, I would hope you are smart enough to have already known the answer before asking this question... literally just dont smoke week for 2 months. Shouldn't be too difficult right?
 

Ever seen the show Atlanta (decent show about childish gambino)? Teacher gets drug tested. She prematurely assumes she fails and says sorry to the principal who says that they don't actually check the results. She gets canned anyway since she admitted.. NOT saying this is even remotely possible but just a scenario haha.

JC, john cena, jesus christ, etc.
 

Update: Heard from an incoming BB analyst that you get tested once before you start your summer internship. Usually happens between when school ends and before you start (May-June). The bank pays for it but you can schedule the test at your convenience during that period. I've also heard other WSO posts saying ~45 days prior to start.

JC, john cena, jesus christ, etc.
 

Gotcha, thanks. Winter break did not do me well but my BB will test in May-June supposedly. If anyone is interested, PM me for name of the BB.

JC, john cena, jesus christ, etc.
 

BB, not IB, but can confirm. We all (IB / S&T / CF) got urine tests about 3 to 5 weeks before starting (they give you a time frame you schedule it in, no earlier than 5 weeks out, no later than 3 weeks out from start date).

It is likely the same for all divisions (why test you AFTER starting or too far before starting?)

I'd be willing to bet a positive test COULD result in a rescinded offer, hell, they might not even check, just use it as an incentive to dissuade employees (like a parked empty police car on the highway).

 

Question for anybody that's gone through the process: for incoming summer analysts, once the background check starts, does the drug test usually follow immediately after, or closer to the start date?

 

For my summer, they told us all on day 1 of the internship to get a test within the next week or so. But there was no background check for summer interns at that bank. If a bank is giving you a background check, the drug test is usually simultaneous with that (i.e. while they take a few days to look into your background, you have a few days to get the drug test)

 

For my summer, they told us all on day 1 of the internship to get a test within the next week or so. But there was no background check for summer interns at that bank. If a bank is giving you a background check, the drug test is usually simultaneous with that (i.e. while they take a few days to look into your background, you have a few days to get the drug test)

 

They give you a 3 month window and say you need to submit drug test results showing youre clean before you start. They do not want you to fail. This would be a headache for them. Dont smoke bud for 2 months. Blows my mind that this is even an issue for people starting their careers.

JM28
 

I was told “after 2019” it wouldn’t hurt to be in the loop with HR & your screener as well. I played the “I want to know timeline to see if it will effect school card” and they said after the turn of the year...which was somewhat helpful. I don’t do any drugs so I’m not worried but knowing when these things are helps in terms of not having to miss class for frivolous items like this. I would follow up with HR & always bring it back to school being the reason ..:ya know with (finals and midterms coming up)

 
Funniest

Dude, you're screwed. The test is a simultaneous hair test, urine sample, mouth swab, and rectal exam. They also take some pubes for good measure. Second hand smoke is enough to trigger this thing- I know a guy who drove his buddy's car to the test. Guess what? His buddy used to hot box that car, and just driving it caused my friend to fail the test.

Time to start looking for a new internship.

 
  1. Had a drug test for lower level BB / upper level MM (RBC/Macquarie/Jefferies/UBS) before my 2018 IBD SA stint. Had to be urine tested at a Quest Diagnostics no further than two weeks away from our training start date.

  2. Not sure about HR, but all front office roles had same time line.

  3. Would imagine it would result in rescinded offer. Offer rates are already below 100%, this makes their job easier.

 

Will the offer letter always specify that you will be drug tested? My letter just had generic language about a background/credit check, but nothing else. Unsure about whether that's standard or not.

Use more debt than your competition or get out of the business. Any other policy is either self-limiting, no-win, or a bet that the competition will go bankrupt before they displace you. - Bruce Henderson
 

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