Recruiting at Harvard for Investment Banking

Many firms come to Harvard to recruit students—take advantage of these opportunities! Here is a general overview of how this process works.

Information Sessions

Numerous companies will come to Harvard to host information sessions, usually at The Charles Hotel or the Sheraton Commander. You can look at the OCS calendar to see when firms come to campus. Usually it is in the late fall/early spring. This is your chance to learn more about the company, meet some people who work there, and ask any questions you may have about the firm or recruiting process. Make sure to try to have a few conversations with a handful of people so you can follow up as the recruiting process progresses. Most importantly, send thank you emails to people you meet.

Coffee Chats

A majority of firms that come to Harvard will host coffee chats. Usually, you have to register or apply beforehand. The company will select you, either on a first-come-first-serve basis or based on a resume screen, to have a one-on-one coffee chat with someone in the division of the company you are interested in. This is your opportunity to ask whatever questions you may have. These could be questions to learn more about the industry, the internship program, what a day in the life is like, or any higher level questions you may have. Again, always remember to follow up with the person you talk to and send a thank you email

Networking

Take advantage of the Harvard alumni network. Most likely, there will be a Harvard alumni working at the firm you are applying to. Ask to quickly chat sometime to learn more about their experience at the firm. Networking is essential because there are thousands of applicants to these firms every year—if analysts have never talked to you before, you are just another name in the pile.

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Here are some helpful tips from Harvard students who have been through the process regarding recruiting specifically at Harvard. A common theme we found is that the most helpful resources are your upperclassmen friends. Be sure to reach out as they are all super willing to help!

Use coffee chats to ask questions in a one-on-one context.

“Going to all the networking and info sessions (even if you don't get much out of it, but just getting your name on the attendance list and acquiring a few email addresses to hit up later). Coffee chats were slightly helpful because it was one-on-one time for me to ask questions directly to an analyst. Getting an upperclassman mentor, formal or informal, to whom you can ask any and all questions because they went through the same process themselves.”

- Intern at BofA, Harvard Class of 2021

“Coffee chats were super helpful! It was a good way to get to know people at the firm in a natural way, and the people you meet at coffee chats can put you in touch with other people at the firm, to help you grow your network there.”

- Intern at elite bulge bracket firm, Harvard Class of 2021

Talk to upperclassmen who have been through the process.

“Recruiting can definitely be overwhelming and intimidating at first! The most valuable thing that I did on campus while recruiting was talking to upperclassmen who had already gone through recruiting/internships in fields that I was interested in. I learned a ton from these conversations-- not only did they explain what the actual recruiting process was like, but they also proofread my resume and helped me craft thoughtful responses to the typical interview questions.

I can't stress how pivotal upperclassmen mentorship was to my personal recruitment process-- don't be afraid to reach out! There are so many pre-professional organizations where you can meet upperclassmen who have recruited in the industries you're interested in, but you can also meet them through classes, house community, etc.”

- Intern at BofA, Harvard Class of 2021

Find your cultural fit at networking events.

“Going to networking events (coffee chats, dinner, etc.) and talking to people were really helpful in allowing me to get to know the people and seeing if it was a good fit.”

- Intern at Citibank, Harvard Class of 2021

“Connecting with alumni/full-time analysts was probably the most helpful thing I did. Most people are more than willing to chat about their experience at their respective bank. Those conversations are important for figuring out whether or not IB and/or their firm is a good fit for you. They generally have a lot of relevant insight to share since they were in the same place as you not too long ago.”

- Intern at BofA, Harvard Class of 2021