Corporate Year-to-Year Guide

During your first year, your goal is to start exploring and building a base of skills and experience. You can pursue any summer experience that will give you exposure to business or help you build strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Fall Quarter

  • Attend Corporate Career Pathways 101 (October 15, 2026)

  • Participate in a business First-Year Career Cohort

  • Begin building foundational skills: Excel basics, business writing, and PowerPoint

  • Join business-oriented student organizations (e.g., UChicago Finance, Strategy, or general business groups)

  • Set up your Handshake profile and begin following target companies

  • Sign up for the Business Bulletin and monitor it for events and job postings that interest you

  • Develop a resume and review with your Career Adviser

  • Sign up for the Corporate Mentorship Program

  • Apply for a winter break business career trek to a great city such as New York City, San Francisco, and more

  • Attend the Leadership Development Program Panel (November 5, 2026) to understand more about rotational corporate roles and what the application and interview processes look like

Winter Quarter

  • Attend employer and alumni panels to learn about specific companies

  • Explore the Trott Business Program application

  • Continue Excel and data analysis skill-building through coursework or independent resources

  • Explore Metcalf internships that will help you build your skills in strategy, data analysis, and business communication

  • Attend the Corporate Case Workshop (January 28, 2026) to work through a typical case-style problem that you could see in corporate interviews

  • Apply for a spring break business career trek to a great city such as New York City, San Francisco, and more!

Spring Quarter

  • Attend the Corporate Networking Night (April 1, 2027) to meet employers and peers looking for talent in corporate roles

  • Begin forming relationships with peers and upperclassmen in Rotational Development Programs

  • Explore sophomore summer internship opportunities

  • Research target companies and industries; begin building a company list

  • Continue pursuing Metcalf internship opportunities with partners such as Sidera Consult, Alchem8, Floe, and more!

  • Attend the Summer Recruiting Roadmap (April 23, 2027) event to help plan for the 2027 recruiting season

  • Join our Corporate Site Visit (May 21, 2027) to learn more about the day-to-day experiences of those working in corporate fields

  • Apply for a summer business trek!

Summer

Fall Quarter

  • Begin networking with alumni and professionals at target companies through LinkedIn and UChicago Alumni Directory

  • Monitor the Business Bulletin for on-campus info sessions and coffee chats with employers

  • Enroll in relevant workshops: financial modeling, data analysis, case prep

  • Begin preparing for case-style interviews (particularly for strategy and LDP roles)

  • Apply for a winter break business career trek to a great city such as New York City, San Francisco, and more!

  • Attend the Fall Career Fair (September 28, 2026) and Business Fair: Networking Event(September 30, 2026)

  • Attend the Leadership Development Program Panel (November 5, 2026) to understand more about rotational corporate roles and what the application and interview processes look like

Winter Quarter

  • Apply for internship opportunities; many deadlines are during this quarter

  • Begin first-round interviews for internship positions; prepare behavioral and fit questions

  • Apply for a spring break business career trek to a great city such as New York City, San Francisco, and more!

  • Attend the Corporate Case Workshop (January 28, 2026) to work through a typical case-style problem that you could see in corporate interviews

  • Participate in the Corporate Growth Strategy Challenge (February 19, 2026)

Spring Quarter

  • Attend the Corporate Networking Night (April 1, 2027) to meet employers and peers looking for talent in corporate roles

  • Follow up on internship offers; evaluate and accept summer internship

  • If internship secured: research the company and function to prepare for summer

  • If still searching: continue applying to rolling-cycle internships and LDP programs with spring timelines

  • Begin building awareness of full-time recruiting timelines for target roles

  • Attend the Summer Recruiting Roadmap (April 23, 2027) event to help plan for the 2027 recruiting season

  • Join our Corporate Site Visit (May 21, 2027) to learn more about the day-to-day experiences of those working in corporate fields

  • Apply for a summer business trek!

Summer

Fall Quarter

  • Closely monitor the Business Bulletin for networking opportunities with top companies

  • Focus heavily on applications and submitting by the deadlines; many third-year internship applications will be due in the fall quarter

  • Refine resume, LinkedIn, and application materials with career adviser feedback

  • Practice behavioral interviews (STAR method) and case-style problem-solving

  • Students with return internship offers: evaluate offer and communicate decision by company deadline

  • Attend the Fall Career Fair (September 28, 2026) and Business Fair: Networking Event(September 30, 2026)

Winter Quarter

  • Attend second-round interviews and on-site / final-round processes

  • Leverage alumni network for referrals and informational interviews at target companies

  • Monitor rolling postings on Handshake

Spring Quarter

  • Attend the Corporate Networking Night (April 1, 2027) to meet employers and peers looking for talent in corporate roles

  • Secure and evaluate full-time offers; negotiate start dates and compensation as appropriate

  • If still searching: refocus with career adviser on rolling-cycle roles and alternative entry points

  • Attend spring career events and treks for remaining networking opportunities

  • Begin transitioning professional relationships from networking to long-term career connections

  • Attend the Summer Recruiting Roadmap (April 23, 2027) event to help plan for the 2027 recruiting season

Summer Internship

  • Treat internship as extended audition for full-time role: take initiative, seek feedback, and demonstrate cross-functional curiosity

  • Confirm return offer status before end of internship; follow up within one week of internship end date if no decision communicated

Fall Quarter

  • If return offer in hand: complete any remaining acceptance paperwork; stay engaged with your incoming cohort

  • If still recruiting: apply aggressively to rolling-cycle full-time postings and attend the Fall Career Fair (September 28, 2026) and Business Fair: Networking Event (September 30, 2026)

  • Attend any remaining employer info sessions and leverage alumni network for direct referrals

  • Schedule career adviser meeting to map remaining open pipelines and target application strategy

Winter Quarter

  • Continue applying to rolling-cycle postings; many companies will continue to post opportunities through the spring quarter as they understand and refine their hiring needs

  • Prepare for phone screens and final-round interviews; refine your narrative around UChicago academics and any prior experience

  • Connect with recent alumni who are 1–2 years into corporate roles for insight and referrals

Spring Quarter

  • Attend the Corporate Networking Night (April 1, 2027) to network with peers who are about to embark on the corporate recruiting process

  • Finalize post-graduation plans; communicate with employers around start dates and onboarding logistics

  • Complete advanced skill-building in key tools such as Excel and PowerPoint

  • Attend send-off events and stay connected to UChicago alumni network for long-term career support

Summer (Pre-Start)

  • Review onboarding materials and any pre-reads from your employer

  • Connect with your incoming cohort and any mentors identified through recruiting process

  • Set intentions for your first 90 days: relationships to build, skills to develop, and goals to demonstrate