When to apply for internships: the recruiting calendar

Why summer internships open so early in finance, consulting and tech, and how to plan your year around it.

Earlier than you think

In investment banking, consulting and many large tech companies, summer internships often open the summer or fall before, sometimes close to a year ahead. Many programs review on a rolling basis: the first weeks matter more than the deadline.

Smaller companies and startups hire closer to the start date, often a few months before.

A simple plan

Spring and summer before: build the resume, list target employers, prepare your stories and technical basics.

As programs open: apply in the first days, then keep checking for new postings every day.

Fall and winter: interviews at the large programs, while you keep applying to companies that hire later.

Spring: the second wave, smaller firms, startups and roles that reopen.

Do not stop after the first wave

Plenty of internships are posted outside the big recruiting season. The students who keep applying through spring often land roles others never saw.

Questions

When do investment banking internships open?

Many large banks open summer analyst programs the summer or early fall of the year before, and fill them on a rolling basis.

Is it too late to find a summer internship in spring?

No. Many companies, especially smaller firms and startups, post internships in spring.