Help/Advice
So supposed to be graduating in May and have no job lined up as of yet. Few months ago I decided that I would try delaying my graduation by 1 semester to give myself another shot at a SA stint. My strategy was to reach out to complete strangers through email in an effort to get them to ask for my resume and hopefully forward it along to HR.
So far everything has gone well. Over the summer, I tried this out for FT. I reached out to one firm where I had great success in people wanting to help out. I made a few contacts with one offerering to forward my resume along for FT positions but was never given an interview.
Now I would like to revive those contacts that I made when I was looking for a FT position and basically work with them for a SA stint.
My question to you guys, how do you suggest I go about this? Shoudl I let them know straight out that I'm delaying my grad by one semester hoping to get a SA position at the firm? WIll they see this as admirable? WIll they just ignore me?
How do banks view delaying graduation? Thanks. any input is appreciated.
Do not mention that you delayed graduation just to get an SA position, doesn't look good typically. Act like it happened naturally (grad reqs) or don't mention it at all unless it comes up in the interview.
Ya, I wouldn't mention the deliberately delaying graduation part. I would try and dial down and find out why you didn't get that position or other offers. It might be a skill that you can polish or maybe your resume needs to be tweaked or something else. You don't want to sit in school and waste that time when it is just something minor that needs to be tweaked. Also, if you are going to do a whole new semester, why don't you look at a masters degree or adding another minor. Good luck!
Agreed with two above posts...doesn't look good to any bank that you delayed graduation just for an SA position. They'd wonder why you couldn't get a position earlier, refuse to give you the benefit of doubt, assume you're just not good enough, and end discussions right there. I know two people that did this at my school (after continuing on as super seniors they both ended up at BBs), however...one added on another major and the second, another minor. I'd say your best bet is to say that you decided late to add a major/minor, and come up with a REALLY GOOD reason why you chose to stay an extra semester to complete it. I think it'd also be in your interest (and more interesting to a banker) to justify this if you choose a non-business-related major/minor which says something about your passions/interests.
I agree and disagree.
I think you would be harmed by specifically saying you delayed graduation just to get an SA opp. Probably will come off looking extremely desperate. I also I agree that if you are going to do this, add an extra major, minor, something of significance that you can use as your excuse for delaying. You can also talk about how by delaying and doing this it gives you opp to be an off-cycle hire (potentially opening more doors), begin working earlier if you wanted to, or spend a few months doing something you are passionate about before you start work next summer (travel, volunteer, etc) since you won't have the opp again until you are retired.
Overall just make sure you have a good reason for your delay. Also, what is your current major? If you are a history major I don't think you would benefit by adding a second non-business major. If your aren't a business major, add something business related, if you are, maybe add some sort of quant major/minor?
Delaying graduation is common in this economy. One of my friend attending a west coast target delayed her graduation for half a year (She graduated this winter) and landed a BB banking SA gig on the west coast this past summer and subsequently a FT offer.
However, you mentioned that your contacts forwarded your resume and you did not even get an interview for their FT recruiting. If the reason lying behind this is your qualification rather than their own headcount issue, your chance of getting a SA interview/position with the same firm will not improve too much unless you have something new on your resume that is worth their second look.
Buddy of mine delayed graduation by a year and got a 2nd major. Went from a MM offer to a GS NY offer
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