Who knows, banks keep changing their policies. If “cases” are lower by the time the sell day takes place, it might be in-person. Otherwise it will be online, which means it’s basically useless.

I think you are over-thinking it. Most banks do not do anything that advanced to match people. It’s informal and mostly based on who already knows you and what they think. So you should just put your #1 choice first.

Yes, work for a year in one group first

Thanks for all the resources you provide for us!

I have a question about the mutual ranking process. Is there any game theory-type strategy to it?

Say there are two groups that would rank me very high. One is by far my first choice and is desired by a lot of people, and the other is probably my second choice but not as desired by other people. Now, could it hurt my chances of getting my top choice if I put the less desirable group as my second choice?

If HR is using a matching algorithm that minimizes the overall ranking numbers (gets as many 1st, 2nd choices and as few 9th, 10th choices as possible), then since a lot of other candidates will ranking my second choice low, the system may find it beneficial to give me my second choice so that someone else can have my first choice, since giving out a 2nd choice and a 1st choice is better than giving a 1st choice and a 5th choice, you know what I mean?

So if it works this way and I REALLY want my first choice, should I just put my first choice first and then have it followed by several groups that will rank me low, then followed by my second choice?

I know that this is probably overthinking it and trying to game the system is risky, but I’d like to know your thoughts on strategies.

Thanks for that, much appreciated. Can you clarify “switch later on”? Do you mean do an analyst year then ask to swap/lateral, or do you mean get the offer then ask/shop around before FT starts?

There is realistically not much you can do in the current environment because yes, accelerated recruiting is extremely unlikely to happen this year (see the recent articles). All you can really do is reach out to other groups when you start working and ask about a switch, but given the risk of that backfiring and your group finding out, it’s better just to do as well as you can, get the return offer, and switch later on.

Accelerated recruiting ‘events’ from other firms won’t be happening due to the pandemic I assume?

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your invaluable advice.

Follow up on the thread (for some reasons I cannot comment below), I would ask one final stupid question.

In my online application last year, I use the college email for primary email, while putting my personal one with a really silly address for the optional secondary address. Neither interviewers nor HR ever asked and I got the offer. I did fill out an info collection form where personal email was asked for and I put an appropriate one there.

Now I’m worried because I don’t know how current bankers can know who SAs are – would they just have small talk and find out or receive a thorough list that shows names & contact details including secondary emails in online application?

If the latter, it will be super embarrassing when I reach out to bankers and they check my details on the list…

I would not ask if the group does modeling because a) You should be able to figure that out pretty quickly (M&A/LevFin/Industry Groups/Restructuring = Yes; ECM/DCM = Not really) and b) It varies a lot by team and individual within the group anyway, so they probably won’t tell you anything useful.

Yes, they should know who the incoming interns / full-timers are, or at least have a rough idea.