General Information

Most large financial services firms have teams focused on recruiting at SOM, usually composed of SOM alumni. 

Your preliminary work is to meet as many people at the firms you are interested in so you can make their ‘closed’ interview list. Each firm will receive many more resumes than they can interview. You need to make yourself known to the bank to ensure you earn an interview spot. All of your work up to and including the submission of resumes & cover letters in November is to make the closed- list.

Once you get the interview, the game resets, and your performance in the interview will determine whether or not you get the job.

September

• Start thinking about your “story”. Do not underestimate the importance of your story – potential employers want to know exactly what you are interested in and the steps you have taken to get there.
• You need to convincingly explain why you want this job, why your background will help you succeed at it, and why you want to work at this firm. “I want to try it out” is a sure way to get dinged.
• Attend internship panels and other events sponsored by the Finance Club.
• Employer presentations. Bulge bracket, middle market, and independent advisory firms will be presenting on campus in late September and providing a chance for students to begin networking.

October/November

• Continue to attend employer presentations.
• Submit your resume to the Finance Club for Review.
• Keep in touch with contacts/establish new ones: alumni are your best bet; ask the recruiters to put you in contact with alumni in a department that you are interested in. Bankers are busy people. Alumni will usually take the time to get back to you and share their experiences. Use each conversation as a way to refine your story.
• Participate in the Finance Club Mock Informational Interviews.
• Start to set up informational interviews for when after exams are done in mid-October.

November

• Attend Days on Wall Street (“DOWS”) Trips to New York sponsored by the Finance Club; again, meet as many professionals as possible.  Follow-up with emails & thank you notes, where appropriate.
• Start your preparation for technical interviews. We will be providing you with comprehensive guides, access to Vault.com, and other resources you can review for more detail.
• Superweek drop: Submit resumes & cover letters to the firms you are interested in. If you are a career switcher, cast a wide net and submit resumes to as many firms in your chosen industry as possible.
• Continue to go on informational interviews. Half the battle with getting on the closed list is having them know and like you.
• Attend the Training The Street workshop sponsored by the Finance Club (on campus).

December

• Participate in Finance Club mock technical and behavioral interviews.
• Attend firm target cocktails and events.
• Review behavioral interview questions, and focus on weaving your background into stories that not only demonstrate you can do the job, but also that you have had relevant experience.
• Closed lists are released.
• Once you have been selected for interviews, mock interviewing is the most important preparation you can have. Mock interview each other repeatedly in person or using Skype over the long winter break. On interview day, you may have five to ten interviews in one day. Prepare, prepare, prepare. That many interviews in one day can get tiring.

January/February

Superweek: The Big Show Begins. Beginning with Investment Banking, and then quickly going into Corporate Finance, Investment Management, and Diversified Financial interviews. It is intense, be ready!

Follow-up interviews with thank you notes to your interviewers – especially important for the firm you are joining, but generally good practice to develop good will.