Job hunting in the U.S. is like running a marathon—if you start late, you’ll fall behind. For international students graduating in 2026, the fall recruiting season of 2025 is a crucial period that could set the stage for their careers. Missing this window could mean putting in double the effort to catch up.
Every January, while most students are still enjoying their winter break, the smart ones are already getting ready. A resume isn’t something you just write; it’s something you perfect. Ask a few industry professionals to review it. Their feedback can often open your eyes. For instance, a friend studying finance was able to turn a small, unnoticed club activity into "leading a 10-person team to organize an inter-campus event," which eventually helped her secure an interview at JPMorgan Chase.
March and April are the peak months for internship applications. Last year, a computer science student with a GPA of only 3.4 made it onto Amazon’s internship list by showcasing three complete projects on GitHub. While landing an internship with a big company is great, hands-on experience at smaller companies can also make you stand out during the fall recruitment. During this time, you should also start networking. On LinkedIn, connect with employees from your target companies, but don’t rush to ask for referrals—first, ask about their industry experience.
June and July are often overlooked, but they’re great for a comeback. For example, last year, an economics student from NYU spent her summer mastering the Bloomberg terminal, which impressed interviewers during fall recruiting. This is also the time to start doing mock interviews—practice with classmates acting as interviewers and work on answering questions like "Tell me about yourself" smoothly. A good tip is to record your answers on your phone, then replay them to catch any flaws.
September and October are the real battle months. Interviews from investment banks and consulting firms come fast and furious, often with three or four interviews in a week. A student from Columbia, for example, reviewed all the deals from the past three years before his Goldman Sachs interview. When asked for his opinion on a merger, his analysis made the interviewers nod in approval. Tech company interviews focus more on practical skills. One CMU student, during his Google interview, encountered an algorithm problem but calmly said, "I need two minutes to think," which left a positive impression on the interviewer.
If you haven’t received an offer by November, don’t panic. A Berkeley student, for example, didn’t get an interview with McKinsey until early December, as someone else had declined their offer. The key is to stay prepared and always be ready to seize new opportunities. Treat every interview as a learning experience. After each interview, quickly review your performance: What did you do well? What could be improved? A useful method is to keep an "interview journal" where you record your responses and thoughts.
Job hunting is not just about skill; it’s about endurance and strategy. I’ve seen many students start off full of enthusiasm but get discouraged after a few rejections. Remember, behind every successful offer, there’s a stack of rejection letters. Maintaining a regular routine is important. Make sure to get 7 hours of sleep each night during interview season. You’ll perform much better than those who stay up late preparing. Lastly, don’t forget that the career center at your school offers many hidden resources, from mock interviews to alumni connections. Not using these services would be a missed opportunity.
In this fall recruiting marathon, the winners are often those who prepare earliest and persevere the longest. Start taking action now, and a year from now, you’ll be grateful for having started your preparations early.
Release time:2025-04-29
