Kicking Off 2026: How to Support Your Sophomore’s Finance Career Journey
About 20% of Wake Forest graduates secure their first job in diverse roles and organizations within the financial services sector. While the new year brings a fresh start, the timeline for finance internships moves faster than many other industries. The major financial services firms’ recruiting season kicks off during the spring of a student’s sophomore year for internships that will start the summer following junior year.
Should your student be interested in potential internships and jobs in finance, here are the key focus areas they should be prioritizing right now.
1. Build the Recruiting Pipeline – The most important step for your student during Winter break and throughout Spring semester is to ensure they aren’t missing out on opportunities which are posted on Handshake, LinkedIn, and the firms’ websites. Employers post and remove internship opportunities continuously, so deadlines can pass quickly.
- Ask your student: “Have you completed your ‘Handshake Power-Up’?”
- Why it matters: By taking less than 30-minutes to set up their full Handshake profile, finance job postings come directly to them, reducing their time spent searching.
- Action item: Encourage them to dedicate 15-30 minutes each week to browse postings and apply immediately to roles that interest them, as some close once they receive enough applicants.
2. Strategic Networking – Referrals are crucial to secure interviews and information interviewing is the best way to be prepared for technical, intensive interviews.
- Ask your student: “Have you drafted outreach emails to the alumni or professionals you identified for networking?”
- Why it matters: In the highly competitive finance industry, only applying online is not sufficient. A personal connection can ensure their resume actually gets reviewed by a human recruiter and greatly increase the odds for an interview.
- Action item: Encourage your student to send at least 5 personalized outreach emails over break to alumni or professionals to conduct an informational interview.
3. Interview Preparation: Behavioral & Technical – Applying, networking, and securing an interview is just the start; being prepared to ace the interview is essential. Preparation needs to focus on two areas:
- Ask your student: “Walk me through your reply to the common interview question, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ and explain a basic financial concept you need to know for an interview?”
- Why it matters:
- Behavioral: Students should be able to articulate their story and answer questions like, “Tell me about a time you faced conflict.”
- Technical: Students should utilize the Case/Technical Interview videos to ensure they can answer industry- and job-specific questions.
- Action item: Challenge them to record themselves answering one behavioral and one technical question on InterviewPrep while on winter break to review their body language and delivery.
4. Scholarship Opportunity – If your student is a first-generation college student with demonstrated financial need and interested in a finance career, they should consider applying for the Truist Scholarship. Awards (up to $30k) will be applied to the tuition balance after financial aid. Applications are open from January 12 through February 9.
- Ask your student: “Are you aware of the Truist scholarship for first-generation college students interested in finance?”
- Why it matters: This award can go a long way toward meeting financial need.
- Action item: Encourage them to apply between January 12 and February 9, 2026.
Securing a finance internship is a competitive process that begins now. Encourage your student to take these action steps today, and thank you for partnering with us to support their personal and career development.