To anyone applying in 2018, some tips I would have told myself having just gone through the cycle for 2017
- Get your CV looking perfect. Even if you think it looks perfect, there's still x10 more improvements you can make (my first application compare to my last - the difference in my CV is night and day) - I'm talking formatting, spacing, grammar, strength of bullet points, removing unnecessary details, one page.
- Get use to one-way video interviews: talking to yourself, thinking on your feet, looking into a camera - awkward af if you're not use to it. Hirevue is an app I'm sure you'll come across over the coming months.
- Practice your tests: some of the decent names continue to use them, the biggest aren't so much (numerical, verbal, SJT)
- Look out for the secret networking events: Hidden on their website and normally during September upto Christmas, many top firms hold networking and drinks evenings with recruiters, analysts etc - great opportunity to network, get name known, understand more about the business
- Don't be sloppy. Really know why you want to work for that firm, takes some time to actually understand their culture and what makes them different. Somewhere down the line they will want to know 'why us, why this programme' - and you need a convincing answer. Oh, and if you're writing a cover letter for Morgan Stanley, make sure you don't have Credit Suisse still written half way down...
- Expect disappointment - their loss, forget it and move on. Spring Week is not the be all and end all in the grand scheme of things.