How early should I start my interview preparation?

Question

I will finish my studies next year. How early should I start to prepare for the interviews?

Answer 1

I agree with Natalie! Starting about 6 months before applications open is ideal.

That being said, it also depends on how much time and effort you can invest. If you’re able to dedicate several hours a day, intensive prep can get you interview-ready in a couple weeks. It really comes down to your schedule and capacity.

If you need help figuring out the right approach for you, feel free to reach out!

Answer 2

Hey there,

I know I’m a bit late to this, but hopefully, you’ve already started prepping or even landed some interviews!

If you’re finishing your studies this year, ideally, you’d want to start preparing at least 6 months before applications open. For IB and high-finance roles, recruiting often happens early, so getting ahead on technical prep (valuation, modeling, accounting) and networking is key.

How’s it going so far? If you still need help, please let me know!

Answer 3

It’s great that you’re thinking about this early. Ideally, you want to start your interview prep at least 3 to 6 months before you plan to start applying seriously. That gives you enough time to:

Learn and practice the technical skills (like financial modeling or case studies)
Prepare your CV and cover letters
Do mock interviews to build confidence
Research the companies and roles you want

If you wait until applications open or interviews are right around the corner, you might feel rushed and stressed. Starting early also lets you spread out your prep so it feels manageable and you can improve steadily.

If you’re finishing your studies next year, try to map out a timeline now based on when the recruitment cycles for your target roles begin (some start very early, like in the fall or winter before you graduate).

Even if you don’t have all your skills perfected yet, beginning the prep process early helps you identify gaps, build momentum, and approach interviews more calmly when the time comes.

So yeah, the sooner the better, but 3 to 6 months before applying is a solid window. Starting earlier just means less stress later.