Prep for Summer 2026 Banking Internship Recruiting

Interested in working full time at an investment bank after graduation? For many investment banks, a summer internship after junior year is a requirement.  Full-time offers may be extended to interns upon completion of their finance summer internship.  Most banks begin recruiting for junior summer internships during the winter and spring term of sophomore year.  Deadlines will vary and interviews are conducted on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer.  

Not sure what investment banking entails? Learn more about it and make an appointment with a career coach if you are interested in pursuing this career path further.

Application Timelines, Hiring Timelines, & Early Insight Banking Programs

As the banking landscape becomes more competitive, we are seeing applications opening up as early as January 2025. Check employer websites weekly for up-to-date information on application timelines. We also suggest you “follow” any finance employer of interest that appears in Handshake, to receive automatic alerts on any new activity initiated by that employer including newly posted events, internship and job opportunities, and other announcements. Some employers may not post their opportunities on Handshake, so checking both the employer websites and Handshake is strongly encouraged. Add finance as a job function preference on your profile in Handshake to receive CPD alerts regarding events, new opportunities, and timelines as they are shared by employers with our office.

Early Insight Programs
An *early insight program is designed to expose students to the banking culture and provide introductory education on various programs across the firm. Dates of when these programs are held differ depending on the firm, so a little research on your end is needed. Consider learning more and participating in one of the programs listed below to gain more knowledge within the banking industry:

Stay Informed With Finance News and Events

Industry Information Sites – It’s important to stay on top of markets to be well informed when interviewing for a finance internship, and it’s also a great way to learn about and explore career options within finance. Below are some industry news subscriptions that are helpful for your research. As a Dartmouth student, free subscriptions to news sites are available to you through the Dartmouth Library.

​​Attend Employer Information Sessions & Other Events (in-person and virtual) – Many employers will host events throughout the winter and spring term that offer opportunities to meet individuals from the organization and learn more about the company and recruiting process. Visit the Events tab in Handshake to view upcoming events.

Attend Employer Educational Events – Some employers host sessions that are more educational in nature to help students learn about various career options when pursuing finance as a career path. These are also posted in the Events tab in Handshake. 

Applying to Opportunities

Common application materials include a resume, cover letter, and an unofficial transcript. Review our resume template and cover letter guide for guidance on how to tailor your application materials to the job description. 

Once you have a resume and have identified employers and roles you’re interested in, keep an eye out in Handshake and employers’ websites this winter and spring for when applications open to start the application process. 

Remember to “follow” any finance employer of interest that appears in Handshake to receive automatic alerts on any new activity initiated by that employer including newly posted events, internship and job opportunities, and other announcements.

Interview Preparation & Advice 

There are many resources available to students to help in preparing for a finance interview. Below are a few suggested resources:

Interview Advice from Employers

“Know the division you want to be in. Do your homework and figure out where your skill set aligns. Network with as many people as you can and stay ahead of the process.” – Morgan Stanley recruiter

“Investment banks are looking for personalities and people who are engaged…who have the ability to have an opinion on the work that you do. Our team looks for people who are able to have opinions about markets – and explain your why.” –  Goldman Sachs recruiter

“It is important to show how you have been able to go deep with different experiences. What makes you, you? That’s the application pool perspective. Find ways to convey that you are dependable, detail-oriented, flexible, and capable of empathy.” – Citi recruiter

Dartmouth Student Organizations

Demonstrate your interests in the industry by joining a relevant student organization. It’s helpful for the employer to know that you are passionate about this career path outside of the classroom and it’s helpful to network with others within this field.  Below are a few organizations that you can get connected with through Dartmouth Groups.   

  • The Dartmouth Finance Society
  • Dartmouth Investment and Philanthropy Program – undergraduate investment group that manages a $800,000+ equity portfolio. Each year, a percentage of the program’s capital gains are distributed as grants to campus-based charitable organizations.
  • International Business Council – dedicated to providing the Dartmouth campus with opportunities to learn about international business and global trade through a variety of programs including dinner discussions, lectures and panels.
  • Smart Women Securities – a not-for-profit organization focused on investment education for undergraduate women.
  • Women in Business – aims to help women interested in business find their career paths and access the resources to help them do so.
  • Sadie Alexander Association – an organization dedicated to making the Economics Department a welcoming place to minority, FGLI, and other underrepresented students

Jobs Within Banking and Finance

Here are some jobs descriptions that are within the banking and non-banking sector. Knowing the differences between the roles will help while discovering which career path is right for you:

Investment bankers famously have a central role in the launches of initial public offerings (IPOs) by young companies preparing to go public.  However, that’s just one example of their work assignments. Essentially, investment bankers are financial advisors to corporations and, in some cases, to governments. They help their clients raise money. That may mean issuing stock, floating a bond, negotiating the acquisition of a rival company, or arranging the sale of the company itself.

A Financial Analyst utilizes financial data in order to make informed decisions. Financial Analysts may work either privately for clients or publicly for organizations. A Financial Analyst compiles, analyzes, and disseminates financial reports as needed. Forecasting models, updated analyses, and ledger maintenance are additional ongoing duties for a Financial Analyst.

Careers Include: Financial Analyst, Junior Research Analyst, Capital Markets Analyst, Junior Portfolio Manager

Evaluating clients’ credit data and financial statements in order to determine the degree of risk involved in lending money to them. Preparing reports about the degree of risk in lending money to clients. Analyzing client records and using the data to recommend payment plans or structure mortgage bond funds.

Careers Include: Credit Analyst, Loan Officer, Commercial Lender, Mortgage Lender

Determines cost of operations by establishing standard costs collecting operational data. They also improve financial status by analyzing results, monitoring variances, identifying trends and recommending actions to management.

Careers Include: Financial Operations Analyst, Risk Analyst, FinTech Analyst

Researches and analyzes industries, market segments, and business models. They evaluate the merits of alternatives and present findings to executive management. Other tasks include executing mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raising in-house for a corporation. Professionals in this job role work alongside investment bankers.

Careers Include: Corporate Development Analyst, Business Development Analyst

Responsible for managing and analyzing their employer’s financial activity. This includes managing cash flow, income, liability obligations and assets. Those involved with Corporate Treasury are employed by businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to oversee their finances. They play an integral role in making sure a business can stay in operation.

Careers Include: Treasury Analyst, Hedging Analyst, Tax Analyst, Transfer Pricing Analyst

Students with questions may email the CPD at cpd@dartmouth.edu.