June 26, 2025

Don’t Miss Your Shot: Insider Advice from a Campus Recruiter

1 hour 11 minutes

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If you’re watching this in your second year, you may already be behind.
Finance recruiting doesn’t wait. It starts early—and moves fast.

In this episode of the Career Starter Podcast, I sit down with Laura Kay (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/laurakay3108), who leads campus recruiting at National Bank, to break down exactly:
- When you need to start preparing (hint: yesterday)
- What separates offers from rejections
- How students unknowingly disqualify themselves
- The small things that make a big impression

If you want a summer internship in investment banking, sales & trading, or equity research, you can’t afford to wing it.

🎧 Start watching now. Your future competition probably already has.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - 🎬 Teaser: Don’t Miss Your Shot
00:01:29 - Laura’s Role and the Growth of Campus Recruiting
00:04:35 - What Students Ask in Coffee Chats
00:05:43 - When to Start Recruiting (It’s Earlier Than You Think)
00:08:55 - Use Chats to Explore Other Finance Paths
00:10:30 - The First-Year Student Who Stood Out
00:13:45 - Didn’t Land It? Do the Right Things Next
00:17:38 - About clubs
00:19:52 - Be Proactive and Make the Connection Clear
00:22:30 - Laura’s Advice to First-Year Students
00:24:17 - Write on LinkedIn
00:25:01 - Stock Pitches
00:27:22 - You Have to Love the Industry to Last
00:27:30 - What Looks Good for Different Finance Roles
00:28:30 - Financial Modelling Is Becoming a Must-Have
00:29:32 - Grades help Narrow Down the Applications
00:34:34 - Go Beyond Membership: Build Real Experience
00:36:00 - Your Internship Is a Four-Month Job Interview
00:39:01 - How to Build Referral-Worthy Relationships
00:40:33 - A Referral Is Their Reputation on the Line
00:42:32 - “I Like a Good Cover Letter” (When They Matter)
00:48:50 - If You Don’t Know the Answer, Say So
00:50:53 - How Recruiters Use LinkedIn (And Why You Should Too)
00:53:10 - Why Basic Coding Knowledge Is Gaining Importance
00:54:45 - How Students Shoot Themselves in the Foot
00:56:32 - Send the Thank You Note (Seriously)
00:58:36 - Just Get Your Foot in the Door
01:10:00 - Thank You & Closing Remarks

🎤 Podcast Recommendations:
Business Breakdowns
Acquired
Odd Lots
Invest Like The Best

Connect with Laura Kay: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/laurakay3108