How He Landed 2 Investment Banking Internships Before Junior Year
Episode 52 | July 6, 2026
For many students pursuing investment banking, securing a junior-year Summer Analyst position is the primary goal. But for Jimmy, a rising junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, preparation started early, and paid off with two competitive internships before his junior year.
In Episode 52 of the Coffee Chat Podcast, host Ben sits down with Jimmy to discuss his recruiting journey, how he earned a sophomore internship at Morningstar, and how he later secured a Summer Analyst offer with J.P. Morgan in Chicago.
Jimmy credits much of his early success to getting involved quickly after arriving on campus. During his first semester, he joined Prime Mergers & Acquisitions, a highly selective freshman program that immerses students in M&A case competitions and valuation work.
“I just knew that this was something that I wanted to spend my career doing,” Jimmy shared after completing his first semester in the program.
Rather than trying to recruit everywhere, Jimmy developed a focused strategy centered on investment banking in Chicago. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs and attending Illinois gave him what Ben described as a “home-court advantage” when networking with alumni and firms in the city.
Jimmy's Advice for Aspiring Investment Bankers:
Explore different career paths before fully committing.
Build a strong network of peers and mentors.
Master technical concepts through repetition and practice.
Use mock interviews to prepare for both technical and behavioral questions.
Stay organized throughout the recruiting process.
Focus on your own recruiting journey rather than comparing yourself to others.
One of Jimmy's most important lessons was the value of collaboration.
“There’s no trophy for going through this alone.”
Jimmy also discussed how becoming a trainer for Adventis helped strengthen his technical skills. Preparing for the Financial Modeling Certification® Program and later serving as a trainer deepened his understanding of financial modeling, valuation, and M&A concepts, skills that proved valuable during recruiting and case competitions.
As recruiting timelines continue to move earlier, Jimmy's story highlights an important takeaway: students who gain exposure early, build strong relationships, and stay disciplined throughout the process can create opportunities well before junior year.
Listen to the full episode to hear Jimmy's recruiting strategy, technical preparation process, and advice for students pursuing careers in investment banking.
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