On-Campus Recruiting in Flip-Flops
On-Campus recruiting for investment banking has always been somewhat brutal. You arrive back to school in late August, early September bright eyed and bushy tailed, happy to see your friends, new laptop charged, #2 pencils sharpened, ready to tackle Economics and then WHAMMO!X$% you spot a flyer out of the corner of your eye – Goldman Sachs IBD is coming to campus next Monday. MONDAY – WTAF. You were literally on the beach last week and you’re still wearing flip- flops. Guess what, your summer is officially over and recruiting season has begun.
If you thought on-campus recruiting sucked before, Covid and the Delta variant have added that special sauce to make on-campus recruiting super-suck.
WTF is a Zoom Cocktail Reception
Given Covid and the rise of the Delta variant, most on-campus Company presentations have now been moved to Zoom. Early networking has become even more important to securing a spot on a coveted campus interview schedule.
In the old pre-Covid days, on-campus company presentations were typically followed by cocktail receptions (aka cattle calls) where students could informally mingle with bankers. This provided students a nice opportunity to score business cards and follow-up with an email or a call. If the banker liked you then you made it onto the schedule. Voila. Now that most of these receptions have been moved online, you have less opportunities (outside of your resume and cover letter) to prove your awesomeness. In even weirder news, I have been hearing rumblings of Zoom cocktail receptions or worse …. cocktail receptions with masks. Either way, I strongly recommend getting your networking done beforehand.
I’m Still feeling Summer Vibes, When Should I Start Networking
Um, Now. No I’m serious. Put the cocktail down and get on Linkedin and start reaching out to people NOW. Here are some simple suggestions to get you feeling your networking vibes:
1. Call your on-campus recruiting center and get an updated schedule of investment banking firms coming to campus.
2. Ask on-campus recruiting if they have a point of contact at each firm (they may say no but why not ask).
3. Do a Boolean search on Linkedin. Search for “YOUR SCHOOL” recent grads in investment banking at the firm.
4. Send a SHORT note via a connect invitation. You are limited by character count.
Example:
Dear X,
Im a current MBA student at Y. I am interested in learning a bit more about recruiting at Y. Would love to connect and hop on a quick 5 minute call to get your insight.
Warmly,
YOU
5. If they have not responded, try and send a follow-up note if possible.
6. Target sending 5-8 notes per week!
If this seems too much or you need a little extra guidance and support, we can help.
How Can Prospect Rock Partners Help?
We understand the financial recruiting landscape and have extensive experience working with hiring managers at Bulge bracket banks, Elite Boutiques and Private Equity firms. We can help you pinpoint what went wrong during your interview and help you course correct so that it doesn’t happen again.
Prospect Rock Partners Interview Prep Services
- 360 review to analyze and assess what is happening during your interview process and where it is going wrong
- One 30-min strategy session with a senior counselor
- Plus two 30-min Mock Interview sessions
- Combination of practice, feedback, and coaching
- Tailored to focus on key issues related to your individual background, industry, and job opportunities
- Feedback-practice loop over multiple sessions allows for full mastery of interview skills
- Access to all GTO interview training materials, covering all aspects of the interview and job search process
We know the banks and know what they are looking for. With our guidance and support we will help you navigate this ultra-competitive job market and land your dream role.
