Get Ahead of Fall Recruiting in August

August is a busy month for students: moving into (or back to) college, getting settled into your classes, connecting with friends, and so much more. This month is also a busy recruiting month for different industries, so getting on top of everything is crucial. Here is everything students need to know about, and get ahead of, in the month of August.

Internships

Recruitment timelines look different depending on the time of the internship: fall, winter, spring, or summer. If you want a fall internship, August is often your last chance to submit your application. These programs typically start their recruitment process in May or June, but you can still squeeze in your application if the deadline hasn’t passed yet.

For winter and spring internships, the applications will start to open in August and September. Get ahead by finalizing your resume and cover letter. Depending on the industry, spots can fill up quickly, so getting your application in right away will help your chances, particularly for programs with rolling application deadlines.

Summer internships will also start their recruiting process in the early fall. This timeline is employer-dependent, but being overprepared won’t hurt. Take this time to update your LinkedIn profile, research companies you want to intern at, and finalize your resume and cover letter. Getting this all done ahead of time will take one more thing off your plate once your coursework picks up. To check out top ranked internship programs, check out the Vault Internship Rankings.

Banking and Consulting 

Recruiting timelines are getting earlier and earlier for banking and consulting firms in particular. College seniors interested in pursuing these roles will be required to submit their applications before, or slightly after, fall semester begins. 

For investment banking, August is when job postings peak. Most bulge-bracket and boutique positions become available this month. Prepare your application materials early so you can be ready to submit them when positions open. Some banks operate with a rolling application deadline, meaning that they accept applications until roles are filled. In these cases, early preparation and applying immediately are the most important. 

If you’re pursuing a consulting analyst role, these applications are open and in full swing in August. Use the month of August to submit your application materials as well as practice case studies. Your interview process will likely include case studies, so use this time to practice about 10-20 cases so you are well prepared by the time of the interview. 

For second-year MBA students who are interested in an associate consulting position, August is a crucial recruiting time. Update your resume and submit the application early, because a lot of firms will begin reviewing applications right away. You don’t want to be at the bottom of the pile just because you submitted later than your peers. You should also participate in mock interviews to hone your behavioral interview answers. Similar to undergrads pursuing an analyst role, you’ll want to practice case studies as well. Associate case studies during the interview process can be more complex, and you want to be well prepared beforehand. 

Check out the Vault rankings for top ranked Banking and Consulting firms. 

Career Fairs

If you’re early in your academic career and not yet in the market for an internship or full-time role, you should still attend your school’s career fairs. You don’t need to attend these fairs with the intention of handing over your resume, but you can attend this event to gain exposure to industry professionals and get a better idea of what your future career options look like. Career fairs can be overwhelming, so doing a dry run with lower stakes can help you feel more prepared for future fairs.

Even if you won’t be applying, you still want to take this opportunity seriously by understanding the basics of career fair etiquette. Dress professionally and communicate with the recruiting folks at the booth. If you leave a lasting impression now, they could remember you next year when you will be handing in your resume. 

A lot of recruiting takes place while you are still in school. Take the month of August to finalize what you want for an internship or full-time position and complete what you need to accordingly.