Financial Services Four-Year Game Plan
The financial services world moves fast—recruiting often starts way earlier than you think. Here’s how to level up your career game from day one.
Quick Questions
Drop by Reynolda 230 on Mon-Thu from 1:30 to 4:30 during the semester.
Need More Help?
Make a specialized appointment on Handshake.
Wake Your Resume
Sit in on a resume workshop in Reynolda 230 at 4 p.m. to polish your resume. Register on Handshake.
First Year: Preparation
First year isn’t just about finding your classes—it’s about setting the stage for the rest of your life. Here’s the deal: a lot of the top financial services companies (both accounting & finance) start recruiting as early as sophomore year (for an internship after your junior year), so you don’t want to get caught sleeping.
The Goal: Move from “just browsing” to “ready to hire” so you can crush it when recruiting season hits next year.
Action Items:
Not sure what accounting or finance really mean yet? Visit the Explore Careers page to see what clicks.
You don’t need to be a CEO to network. Start connecting with alumni, professors, and peers. Begin building professional connections by attending employer events and reaching out to people in the industry.
Join the Finance Club, Investment Club, Econ Club, or Women in Business, or Wake Accounting Society. It’s a low-stakes way to learn the lingo.
Subscribe to industry newsletters and sign up for internship updates to stay current on trends and opportunities. The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times are available through the ZSR library. (You may have to use a VPN connection if trying to access off campus.)
Activate your account right away. Complete your profile and career interests. Then, make Handshake work for you. Take 30 minutes to get it right. Modify your account as your hone in on what you really want to do.
For additional information and resources, visit these pages:
- Accounting: Accounting Industry Insights page
- Finance: Finance Industry Insights page | First-Year Roadmap.
Sophomore Year: The Hustle Season
Okay, no more practice rounds. Sophomore year is the critical window for landing those competitive junior year internships. Top firms are interviewing in the spring of your sophomore year for summer internships following your junior year.
The Goal: Master your preparation, hit the ground running, and confidently pursue the opportunities you want.
Action Items:
Start preparing for both behavioral and technical interviews. Watch videos and use resources on interview strategies. You should be able to articulate your story, explain your interest in finance, and answer technical questions before you even get an interview request.
Develop a search strategy and create a targeted list of firms and roles. Begin applying for internships through Handshake and directly on company websites. Do not wait for deadlines, as many firms recruit on a rolling basis.
Don’t just network; network with a purpose. Reach out to alumni and professionals at firms you are applying to. The goal is to gain insights, advice, and potentially a referral, which can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
Actively monitor Handshake for employer information sessions, coffee chats, and networking events happening on campus or virtually. Attending these events demonstrates interest and puts you in direct contact with the people making hiring decisions.
Make Handshake work for you. Take 30 minutes to get it right. Modify your career interests as they develop and keep your profile current.
For additional information and resources, visit the Accounting Industry Insights page or Finance Industry Insights page & Sophomore Roadmap.
Junior Year: The Deep Dive
This is the main event. Junior year is where the search gets real. It’s time to shift focus from general exploration to securing the internships and roles that lead to full-time offers.
The Goal: Shift from exploring to executing by actively networking, sharpening your skills, and applying with intent to secure the role that launches your career.
Action Items
Move beyond initial coffee chats and focus on building genuine relationships with industry professionals. Your goal is to gain advocates who can provide valuable insights and potentially champion your candidacy.
With interviews happening now, you must be prepared for both behavioral and technical/case-based questions. Use all available resources, including mock interviews and online guides, to perfect your answers and presentation.
Take the initiative to complete online courses on platforms like LinkedIn Learning to build skills that will make you a more attractive candidate and prepare you for professional success.
After you accept an offer, be sure to complete the summer experience survey and keep your career coach updated.
Actively monitor Handshake for new employment opportunities and consistently attend employer events. These events are a prime opportunity to learn about different firms and make a positive impression on recruiters.
Keep your profile and career interests up to date. Power Up your Handshake to make certain that it is working for you.
For additional information and resources, visit the Accounting Industry Insights page or Finance Industry Insights page & Junior Roadmap.
Senior Year: The Final Boss
This is the culmination of all your work. If you have an offer, great! If not, full-time recruiting is happening now. Seniors must actively leverage their network and refine their professional toolkit to transition confidently into the workforce.
The Goal: Convert your network and skills into a job offer before graduation.
Action Items:
Your primary focus should be on interview preparation. This means practicing both behavioral questions to articulate your story and technical/case questions to demonstrate your competence. Use all available resources, as interview performance is the final hurdle to securing a job offer.
Actively view and apply for employment opportunities in Handshake. Simultaneously, you must attend employer events to make final impressions and learn about company cultures. This is your last chance to get in front of recruiters.
Continue to build and nurture relationships with industry professionals. Your network is one of your most valuable assets. A strong relationship can lead to internal referrals and crucial insights that can make all the difference in a competitive recruiting landscape.
Access resources like LinkedIn Learning to hone essential career skills. This demonstrates a commitment to professional development and ensures you are ready from day one.
Once you’ve signed that offer letter, complete the first destination survey. Congratulations! You did it!
For additional information and resources, visit the Accounting Industry Insights page or Finance Industry Insights page & Senior Roadmap.