The “Know Your Audience” series on the HBS Recruiting Blog highlights trends in recruiting for various industries. Learn more about student interest, effective recruiting strategies, and best practices from HBS staff dedicated to your industry.

Meet the Team

Jonathan Shepherd – Corporate Relations Director and Career Coach
Katja Frey – Assistant Director of Employer Relations

Jonathan and Katja lead the Career & Professional Development (CPD) team’s work with Investment Management firms. Together they bring both industry and recruiting expertise, helping organizations design effective strategies for engaging with HBS students.

Understanding Student Demand

Each year, dozens of HBS graduates go into investment management. While this may seem like a small percentage, it reflects the limited number of roles available in the industry—not a lack of student interest. In fact, when firms post positions in the HBS recruiting platform 12twenty, they typically receive a large volume of applications from exceptionally qualified candidates. Even firms hiring just one or two students can expect strong interest, making HBS a highly efficient recruiting channel.

Summer Internship as a Talent Strategy

For firms looking to evaluate long-term talent, a summer internship is one of the most effective tools. It allows employers to assess how students learn, adapt, and contribute in real-time over ten weeks. This is especially valuable for identifying top performers among both experienced candidates and career switchers—students who come from different professional backgrounds.

To reach interested students, you can post your opportunity in the HBS recruiting platform 12twenty, which makes positions visible to the entire HBS community. You can also share postings with relevant student clubs, such as the Investment Club and Women in Investing, to connect directly with those most engaged in the field.

The Value of Career Switchers

While many HBS students entering investment management have prior industry experience, firms that consider career switchers often discover outstanding long-term hires. These students bring fresh perspectives, intellectual curiosity, and transferable skills from other fields.

In addition to summer internship opportunities generally available to students, CPD and Professor Sara Fleiss developed the Investment Management Bootcamp—an intensive fall offering designed to build core investing skills for first-year students. The program includes financial modeling, research training, and practice stock pitches. Select students also participate in a weeklong January placement with a Boston-based investment firm. This experience accelerates readiness while giving firms early access to promising candidates.

HBS Summer Funding Support

The HBS Summer Fellows Program offers financial support so that students can intern with firms that might not otherwise be able to host an intern. Students can work with the hiring organization to craft a unique role that aligns with the needs of the organization and the skills and interests of the student intern. Firms must contribute at least $700 per week towards the intern’s salary.

Smart Recruiting Strategies for Investment Firms

There are multiple high-impact ways to engage with HBS students outside of traditional internship recruiting:

  • Industry Education Events: Host a session on a tactical topic—such as how to pitch a stock—to build your brand and attract interested students.
  • Coffee Chats: These informal conversations, whether virtual or in person, are ideal for firms hiring one or two students. They foster meaningful 1:1 dialogue.
  • Student Conferences and Summits: Participate in events like the Women in Investing Summit and the Investment Club Conference to gain visibility and join the campus conversation.

Importantly, not all students commit to investment management early in the year. Many deepen their interest later in the semester. If you're considering outreach in the spring, it’s not too late—you may still find strong, motivated candidates.

Partner with HBS

Recruiting at HBS does not require scale—it requires strategy. Whether you're exploring an internship, offering a project, or simply hoping to meet a few great students, CPD is here to help you navigate the process.

Jonathan and Katja welcome conversations about your firm’s goals and how to best connect with the investment-minded students at HBS.

Contact our office today to begin building your recruiting strategy.