At what point does "any type" of IB experience become not very helpful?

I see people on here saying IB experience > anything else (if you want to move to a BB or top firm)

But is working for a small, no-name boutique really all that better than working at a more prestigious firm, but doing something not necessarily related to IB?

I'm thinking in terms or B-school opportunities, where you're more likely to get into a top school working at a more prestigious firm than doing IB work at a small firm that probably has limited deal flow.

After B-School you have a second chance to get in as an Associate

9 Comments
 

The better the bank, the better the pay, B-School chances, and exit opportunities. Simple as that.

Just remember, when breaking into IB from a top B-School (ie: Wharton, HBS), you aren't even guaranteed a job. You have to compete with the guys who came from GS -> HBS -> Associate role.

 
BTbankerThe better the bank, the better the B-School chances.
[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 
BTbanker Just remember, when breaking into IB from a top B-School (ie: Wharton, HBS), you aren't even guaranteed a job. You have to compete with the guys who came from GS -> HBS -> Associate role.
It's been my experience that not a lot of people who did banking pre-MBA are looking to move back into banking in an associate role post-MBA. Most MBA students with banking aspirations are career changes - so no, you're not typically competing with pre-MBA bankers.
 
Boothorbust
BTbanker Just remember, when breaking into IB from a top B-School (ie: Wharton, HBS), you aren't even guaranteed a job. You have to compete with the guys who came from GS -> HBS -> Associate role.
It's been my experience that not a lot of people who did banking pre-MBA are looking to move back into banking in an associate role post-MBA. Most MBA students with banking aspirations are career changes - so no, you're not typically competing with pre-MBA bankers.
Well, not typically. But, there definitely are some who return to banking post-MBA that are tough to compete with.

Could you shed some light on what a typical route is for exiting IBD to HF and PE. I've come to assume that after two years, a headhunter will contact you or vice versa and a career change can be made without B-school. Then while at the HF of PE firm, they make you get an MBA to move up the ranks. Do people with IB experience only get an MBA if there were no offers after 2 years?

 
Best Response
BTbanker

Could you shed some light on what a typical route is for exiting IBD to HF and PE. I've come to assume that after two years, a headhunter will contact you or vice versa and a career change can be made without B-school. Then while at the HF of PE firm, they make you get an MBA to move up the ranks. Do people with IB experience only get an MBA if there were no offers after 2 years?

What you've come to assume is how it generally goes.Top notch FO IBers get out after two years to buyside shops via headhunters, no b-school required. PE (not sure about HF) hire "pre-MBA associates" who then go on to MBA eventually (if necessary I guess?). People with IB experience get an MBA if they want to switch careers and/or don't have offers. Still it is VERY difficult to get a PE offer post-MBA if you didn't have pre-MBA PE experience (even if you were a banker). This is because the negative signalling someone else mentioned above (if you were awesome, you would have had a PE offer).**

** All of this is general case, based on people I've interacted with. As always, there are exceptions to the rule, so don't go MSing all over me about your best friend who didn't get a PE offer then went to HBS and landed a gig at KKR

 
Boothorbust
BTbanker

Could you shed some light on what a typical route is for exiting IBD to HF and PE. I've come to assume that after two years, a headhunter will contact you or vice versa and a career change can be made without B-school. Then while at the HF of PE firm, they make you get an MBA to move up the ranks. Do people with IB experience only get an MBA if there were no offers after 2 years?

What you've come to assume is how it generally goes.Top notch FO IBers get out after two years to buyside shops via headhunters, no b-school required. PE (not sure about HF) hire "pre-MBA associates" who then go on to MBA eventually (if necessary I guess?). People with IB experience get an MBA if they want to switch careers and/or don't have offers. Still it is VERY difficult to get a PE offer post-MBA if you didn't have pre-MBA PE experience (even if you were a banker). This is because the negative signalling someone else mentioned above (if you were awesome, you would have had a PE offer).**

** All of this is general case, based on people I've interacted with. As always, there are exceptions to the rule, so don't go MSing all over me about your best friend who didn't get a PE offer then went to HBS and landed a gig at KKR

Awesome, thanks for sharing your experience.
 
Boothorbust
BTbanker Just remember, when breaking into IB from a top B-School (ie: Wharton, HBS), you aren't even guaranteed a job. You have to compete with the guys who came from GS -> HBS -> Associate role.
It's been my experience that not a lot of people who did banking pre-MBA are looking to move back into banking in an associate role post-MBA. Most MBA students with banking aspirations are career changes - so no, you're not typically competing with pre-MBA bankers.
This...

You rarely, if ever see a B schooler from a FO IB position trying to enter a FO IB position post MBA. Why? It's a red flag because banks are promoting to Associate and cultivating talent from the inside. So again, a huge red flag.

Now, you'll find many B schoolers from IBs trying to make the jump from MO/BO to FO.

 
BTbankerThe better the bank, the better the pay, B-School chances, and exit opportunities. Simple as that.

This is obvious, but isn't what the OP was asking, OP is asking would it be better for future opportunities in particularly B-school to take a position in IB at a no-name small boutique, or a firm with better name recognition (maybe Big 4) in a non-IB related position. So with that said I'd say the firm with better name recognition will get you better B-school opportunities.

"Do whatever it takes to keep the legend of Wall Street as it was truly intended live on. When you think back on investment banking of the early 21st century, remember the heat—remember the passion. But mostly, remember the titans. " - LSO
 

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