In this article, we’ll go over what prospective candidates should be doing right now to maximize their chances of getting an offer. Then we’ll transition to how some of our students successfully navigated Evercore’s high-stakes application process to secure interviews already and close out with a story about how one of our top students has already finished recruiting before others have even started.

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1. Where We Are In The Process

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The 2028 investment banking summer internship recruiting cycle continues to be pushed forward with a big shock from Evercore when it opened applications on September 8th and then preceded to send out interviews right before Halloweekend. At this rate, we expect some offers to come out as early as the beginning of November.

But that’s nothing compared to hedge fund recruiting with Citadel already issuing invitations for its fundamental investing program on a rolling basis, and multiple offers have already been handed out including to one of our students (continue reading to learn about his story). We anticipate that a significant portion of 2028 Summer Analyst (SA) offers will be extended by January of next year.

So, what should prospective sophomores who haven’t started preparing do about this? We suggest immediately networking and doing interview prep. Response rates for cold emails tend to decline as banks identify high-quality candidates early on and shift their attention toward the students already on their radar, leaving other people wondering why nobody is getting back to them. It’s also important to stay interview-ready throughout networking season since some bankers will ask behaviorals and technicals during coffee chats, catching many students off-guard. Lastly, the key to standing out to banks is consistency.

Allocate time every day to draft emails, do practice questions, or record yourself reciting your “tell me about yourself” response. Many other students started preparing as early as freshman year or already have an established network through clubs/family, so every week delayed is another week they spend building an advantage.

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Different Ways To Network

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October and November could be the make or break for students to get their foot in the door. Investment banks are actively shortlisting candidates through two channels: networking performance and early programs. As mentioned before, students should prioritize building relationships with bankers through cold outreach, but another overlooked way to stand out is by attending online webinars that banks host. Leading elite boutique Perella Weinberg, for example, held a restructuring webinar that allowed students to directly interact with members of the recruiting team. Every bank tracks networking performance and webinar attendance in their internal recruiting systems to determine who receives interview invitations.

Early Insight programs have also been opening across multiple top-tier investment banks, such as Goldman Sachs and M. Klein, looking to rope in potential candidates before the official recruiting process kicks off. Benefits of these programs include exclusive opportunities to network directly with professionals in the office along with accelerated interview processes for select attendees.

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Who Should You Network With?

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Another thing about networking that students struggle with is deciding what to network for. Our tip is to consider a diversified approach. Don't fixate on just one area since that severely limits the number of people you can have high-quality chats with and the number of applications you’ll be qualified to interview for. We recommend selecting 2–3 sectors or groups that interest you, then prioritizing your networking and technical preparation based around what those groups do. Location also closely coincides with the sectors you choose. Let’s use Perella Weinberg as an example again. Each office of the bank maintains a distinct industry focus:

Particularly curious about how raw materials are sourced or how products are manufactured? Hit up their Chicago and LA offices for industrials chats.

What if you want to get an insider’s perspective on the AI industry? The San Francisco TMT team might be of interest.

The Houston office stands out for their focus on energy. You’ll get plenty of experience working on renewable energy and oil/gas transactions.

Or you’re undecided and would welcome the opportunity to explore multiple industries. New York’s Generalist program is perfectly suited for you.  

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The point is, every office is specialized and recruits separately, which might give you an advantage if you don’t want to compete with the thousands of other students vying for spots in the NY office.

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2. Navigating Evercore Applications

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When you hear about investment banking, you’re bound to hear about one particular company all the time. You know the bank that pays first-year analysts as much as $250,000? Oh, and did I mention that getting an internship at this bank is harder than getting into Harvard? Yes, that’s Evercore, one of the top elite boutique investment banks regarded as one of the most prestigious firms on the street. With these impressive statistics, it seems like even getting a first-round interview is out of reach, but I’m here to tell you: it’s not! You absolutely don’t have to come from a top-tier university, get into the most selective clubs on campus, or need the most stellar resume. What you should do to maximize your chances is follow the steps I’ve outlined:

Evercore opened its application process this September, four whole months earlier than last year when they opened up in January. Our insider connections at the firm noted that by the time Evercore handed out offers last recruiting cycle, many top-tier candidates had already been poached by other notable competitors like Goldman Sachs and Centerview. Because of this, interviews have started rolling out in batches, and several of our students are moving through the process already. We expect superdays to be conducted the week of January 4th. What’s surprising about Evercore’s recruiting this cycle is that their applications aren’t rolling. Whether you apply now or at the deadline of November 15th makes no difference since your resume will be reviewed at the same time as everyone else’s.

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Team-by-Team Breakdown

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Trying to comb through all the different applications Evercore has opened up can be a headache. A lot of students will think “oh I just want to do M&A so let me apply for it” until they realize Evercore has nine different M&A positions in six cities and two countries. And then there’s teams you’ve likely heard little of, if at all: Private Capital Advisory? Structured Capital Solutions? You’re starting to question what banking even is. In total, Evercore’s front-office IBD division consists of a staggering 18 different teams, and because the firm is expected to increase its headcount by 25-30% compared to last year, there’s surprisingly many opportunities to get into one of the best banks on the street.

Starting off with the New York office’s most popular group, the M&A team has an incoming class of about 60+ analysts across all industries. What stands out about this group compared to other banks is that it’s fully generalist, meaning all interns will have the opportunity to work on deals within different industries before selecting a permanent group to join should they receive a full-time return offer. However, this fact, combined with Evercore’s prestige, makes this group the most competitive.

That said, candidates this recruiting cycle might be in luck: firstly, the Healthcare M&A team is expected to increase its headcount by two analysts compared to last year and secondly, two new offices have opened up in Richmond, Virginia for transportation M&A and Toronto, Canada for generalist.

For candidates interested in the West Coast, Evercore’s Menlo Park office offers two paths: Tech M&A and Healthcare M&A. Interns in Menlo Park are typically placed directly into one of these industry-focused teams, so candidates should come prepared with a strong understanding of their respective sectors. Interviewers will frequently ask highly industry-specific technical questions in order to know who is truly interested in those sectors and who is applying just because they saw a job posting. Outside of M&A, other teams in New York recruit independently through separate applications:

Evercore’s top-of-the-line restructuring team is expected to hire 12 interns this year and rivals M&A in terms of competitiveness. Bankers in this group are more than willing to turn a coffee chat into a technical grill, so if you’re thinking of recruiting for this, start building your understanding of distressed debt, legal proceedings, and credit investing.

Capital Markets Advisory, which includes Equity Capital Markets (ECM) and Private Capital Markets (PCM), is very overlooked by candidates despite their top performance. The ECM team was ranked amongst the Top 8 in the entire industry with $250 billion of deals in 6 years while the PCM team was named Investment Bank of the Year for private placements by TheBanker. If you do receive an interview from either group, be sure you’re ready to convince them why you want to do Capital Markets instead of M&A or restructuring.

Joining the Private Capital Advisory team right now can be particularly valuable for interns since there’s plenty of deal flow due to the explosive growth in the secondaries industry over the past few years. Evercore is the undisputed king of PCA and has been ranked #1 consistently over the past years. Very few students know what the team actually does, so a little research can make you stand out during coffee chats or interviews.

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How You Should Network as Someone From a Target School vs a Non-Target

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Now, you might be reading this and still second guessing whether you’re truly qualified for Evercore. Tens of thousands of students recruit for banking every cycle and Evercore only takes around 60 for M&A? The odds still don’t seem to be in your favor. What you can do to make up for this is by, as mentioned before, networking.

For people going to target schools, you’re in luck. Evercore will set up a recruiting team just for your university, so you don’t have to indiscriminately reach out to people who have zero connection to your school. Be sure to attend Evercore’s on-campus information sessions/online webinars and then follow up with professionals who came to these events using high-quality, thoughtful emails. Target schools for the NY M&A team include NYU, Columbia, Cornell, University of Michigan, Notre Dame, UPenn, UT Austin, and a few top-tier liberal arts colleges.

For those who don’t go to any of these universities, don’t be discouraged. Evercore is very open to non-targets also has a dedicated recruiting team for non-core schools. It’s difficult to know who exactly is on it, but you’ll likely find them in two specific groups: alumni from your university and professionals who graduated from other non-target schools. In the end, the process of networking is the same for everyone. Even if you don't get a response from everyone, even one meaningful conversation can go a long way in helping you stand out. Networking won't guarantee you an interview, but it can help ensure that when your application comes across a recruiter's desk, you're more than just another name in the pile.

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3. While Everyone Else Just Started Filling Out Applications, OSG Just Secured Its First 2028 Offer of the Season at Citadel

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Meet J (pseudonym): our first offerholder for the current finance recruiting cycle. He was one of two students selected out of 800 to participate in Citadel’s Associate Program. But on the outside, he seems just like every other business student: raised in Philadelphia, discovered a passion for planes in high school, and is now attending college as a sophomore. So how did he do it? How did he manage to beat out hundreds of competitors vying for the same position? Let’s break down his recruiting journey and how OSG helped him (and can help you as well) secure a top-tier offer.

J’s success began with getting an early head start on recruiting. Before even stepping foot onto campus, OSG mentors had already taught him the fundamentals of coffee chatting and building stock pitches. As he settled into college, the OSG team helped J explore different career paths and develop a personal story that set him apart. Thanks to his Lead Mentor, he was able to explore opportunities across a wide range of industries, including investment banking, hedge funds, and secondaries.

Once he narrowed down his interests, we provided more targeted support by connecting him with our extensive mentor network, guiding him through stock pitches for case competitions, and working side-by-side with him to craft his behavioral stories. For example, he was able to turn his previous experience of being a pilot into an example of how he was able to develop a distinctive perspective as an investor. He was successfully able to leverage our resources to become a member of the one of the most prestigious student organizations in the school.

OSG also makes an effort to cater to every student’s learning style. In J’s case, he preferred studying technical material independently and using sessions for deeper discussions. Rather than simply walking through LBOs and DCFs, mentors like Jackson and Kolby challenged him to develop an investor’s mindset by debating him about technology trends and pushing him to identify airtight theses around potential market winners and losers. This not only allowed J to craft strong pitches but also gave him a better understanding of how to defend his trade ideas during interviews.

When hedge fund recruiting kicked off, J continued to leverage OSG’s extensive mentor network. By discussing companies with mentors across sectors like semiconductors, industrials, and consumer, he gained exposure to different perspectives and repeatedly practiced defending his investment theses under pressure. We also helped him prioritize his time among networking, case competitions, and interview prep, ensuring he focused on the activities most relevant to his goals. This catered learning plan allowed J to remain a well-rounded candidate, ultimately allowing him to secure a spot at Citadel.

J’s story is just one of the hundreds of success stories we can tell, and OSG can help you secure a high finance job as well! With mentors who have firsthand experience across different areas of finance and a track record of helping students navigate competitive recruiting processes, we know what it takes to help you stand out. No matter where your interests lie or where you are in your recruiting journey, OSG can guide you every step of the way.

And finally, a message to J himself: thank you so much for choosing OSG! You’ve worked so hard over these past years, and it’s been incredible to see how much you’ve grown throughout this journey. We are proud to have been a part of your success, and we look forward to seeing you in our Return Offer Bootcamp. Be sure to take some time off and enjoy the rest of your sophomore year!

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About OSG

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We provide career exploration, technical preparation, applications, networking support, and mock interviews. Our mentors help students navigate the investment banking recruiting process, from building a strong resume and developing their story to preparing for behavioral and technical interviews.

Students can also explore our student cases to see how candidates from different backgrounds have approached finance recruiting.

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Free Career Planning Session

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Book a one-on-one conversation to discuss target roles, your recruiting stage, and preparation priorities.

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Explore More Resources

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Investment Banking Recruiting Timeline: A Complete Freshman-to-Junior Year Guide to Planning, Applications, and Interviews 

The Jazz Musician Who Landed a Bulge Bracket IB Offer in Hong Kong 

From Pre-Med to Wall Street: How I Broke Into Bank of America Investment Banking from a Non-Target School     

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Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be construed as professional or legal advice. The information and recommendations provided reflect general recruiting insights and personal experiences, which may not apply to every individual's circumstances. While the strategies discussed may help candidates better prepare for the investment banking recruiting process, following them does not guarantee an interview invitation, internship, or full-time employment offer from any financial institution.

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