From a professional standpoint, how bad is international student recruiting in the 2027 banking cycle? Despite networking, lots of students in my school are struggling to even get a round 1 interview.
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From a professional standpoint, international student recruiting is genuinely tougher in this cycle. Banks are hiring more cautiously, and when headcount is tight, visa sponsorship becomes an additional filter, even if it’s not always stated explicitly. That’s why many strong international profiles are struggling to get first-round interviews despite solid networking.
This doesn’t mean the process is broken or that candidates aren’t competitive. It’s more that firms are prioritising lower-risk hires when they can. International students who do get through usually focus very deliberately on teams and offices with a history of sponsorship and rely heavily on targeted referrals rather than broad applications.
My advice is to stay realistic but not discouraged. This cycle is harder than usual, and flexibility on geography, timing, or team can make a real difference.