Building a Strategic Recruiting Game Plan: From Freshman Year to Offer
In Episode 22 of the Coffee Chat Podcast, Adventis host Ben sat down with Nicholas John, a finance and accountancy student at the University of Illinois. Fresh off his freshman year, Nick is already setting a focused goal: landing an investment banking internship in Chicago for Summer 2027, with the hope of converting it into a full-time analyst offer.
What followed was a candid and insightful discussion on how to build a recruiting game plan early—one that balances geography, networking, and preparation for both technical and behavioral interview prep.
Setting Clear Career Goals Early
Ben emphasized the importance of Nick’s defined focus on Chicago, calling it a “really strategic choice.” Chicago’s proximity to Urbana-Champaign offers natural advantages, including alumni ties, the ability to attend in-person events, and exposure to both bulge-bracket and middle-market banks.
“Somewhere in that six-to-eight bank range is typical,” Ben explained. “If you get too many more than that, it gets hard to keep track of. If you get fewer, you’re taking a high-risk approach.”
By narrowing down a city and creating a target list of firms, students can better allocate their time and avoid spreading themselves too thin.
Recruiting Across Multiple Cities: Opportunity vs. Risk
Nick asked a question on the minds of many aspiring bankers: Is it realistic to recruit in more than one city?
Ben’s answer was straightforward. “You can definitely do it, but it’s more taxing—you’ll have to make more trips, spend more money, and juggle multiple narratives.”
The challenge is not only logistical but also about maintaining consistency in your story. As Ben put it:
“It’s unusual for someone to be gung-ho about bulge bracket in New York who’s also dabbling in Chicago middle market. That tends to tell an inconsistent story.”
However, if your narrative is centered on a specific firm, such as Goldman Sachs, recruiting across multiple offices is more cohesive: “All you’ve got to tell them is, ‘Goldman’s my number one. I’m looking at every city that has a sizable Goldman office.’ That’s a clean and clear narrative.”
Networking as the Foundation
When asked what he had learned from networking so far, Nick highlighted cultural differences between cities. Bankers in Chicago described the environment as “a bit less cut-throat competitive and a bit more collaborative” compared to New York. He also noticed that industrials are a dominant coverage group in Chicago, a detail that can shape how he frames his recruiting story.
Ben reinforced the point: “Networking isn’t about telling people what they want to hear. It’s about being informed, having conversations, and being realistic about where the opportunities are.”
For freshmen like Nick, networking should start with peers and recent alumni. Ben recommended speaking with:
10 students who earned junior-year offers
10 students who secured full-time roles
10 first-year analysts currently on the desk
This progression not only builds confidence but also equips students with the language and perspective needed for interviews and superdays.
Balancing Technical and Behavioral Interview Prep
Nick shared his summer plan: preparing for Illinois’s Investment Banking Academy application process by mastering both technical concepts and behavioral answers.
“I don’t want to just memorize the answers to a 400-question document,” he said. “I want to actually understand conceptually so that when they throw curveballs at me, I can logically explain my thinking.”
Ben encouraged this approach but cautioned against over-indexing on technicals at the expense of networking:
“People gravitate toward their strengths. If you love talking to people, you might avoid technicals. If you’re more technical, you might neglect networking. Think about what you’re more likely to procrastinate on—that’s your indicator of what to prioritize.”
The Long-Term Timeline
Finally, Nick asked whether it was too early to start reaching out to bankers. Ben’s advice was simple: start now, but start smart.
“Talk to people who are one or two years ahead of you. It’s more important to have the conversation with somebody than to wait for the perfect person. By fall, you should be talking to more senior bankers. And by November, if you haven’t met a managing director, you’re probably off track.”
Key Takeaways
Nick’s story illustrates how freshmen can begin shaping a successful recruiting path:
Define Your Target: Choose a city and focus on 6–8 firms.
Craft a Consistent Narrative: Be clear about your goals across geographies and firms.
Network Intentionally: Build relationships early, starting with peers and expanding to analysts and alumni.
Balance Preparation: Develop technical mastery while practicing behavioral responses.
Start Early, Stay Steady: Recruiting success comes from consistent effort, not last-minute sprints.
As Ben concluded, “Stay laser-focused and you’ll get what you’re looking for. If you spread your focus, expect to work 30–50% harder to achieve the same result.”
At Adventis, we believe preparation is the key to multiple offers, not just a lucky break. Our Financial Modeling Certification® (FMC® Program) equips students with the technical and practical skills they need to succeed in competitive recruiting processes.
If you’re ready to take your first steps toward a career in finance, explore the FMC® Program today.
