Business school for Bankers

If you are already at a BB in a good seat that you like, and you elect to go to b school after 2-3 years as an analyst, is there any probability that they could bring you back as a 3rd year associate/VP? This would seem like the only way the opportunity cost for business school is positive. Does this ever happen?

 
Best Response

This would never happen. First off, it really makes no sense. A third year associate is transitioning into a softer role that involves managing a deal process and one day moving into a role that involves bringing clients into the firm. How would any MBA grad be able to do that if they were previously an analyst? You would essentially be going from a role that involves model building and PowerPoint formatting to a role that involves running a process. Second, there are plenty of ways that an MBA can be worth it even if it costs you two years of your life without a promotion to make up for the lost time. Do a search and read Compbanker's thread about MBAs. If you graduate from a nontarget and work at a "less prestigious" bank, an MBA might rebrand you and give you credibility. That in and of itself could make the $200,000+ and two year cost of an MBA worth it if you are looking to be a career banker.

 

if you are keen on staying in banking and are at a bank / group that does direct promote, it will never make sense to go to bschool only from a opportunity cost perspective. However, going to bschool will have significant intangibles (network, leadership learning, etc) which will have benefits later in your career. But most importantly, after 2-3 years of slaving away, bschool provides a much deserved break and an ability to "recharge your battery". I personally cannot imagine doing 6-7 years of analyst + associate banking work without a break...

 

Op, as someone in IB who wants to go to b school and return to IB long term, I looked into the same thing - short answer to your question is no. I heard of an instance where someone was directly promoted to associate and went to b school and came back as a senior associate / VP, but that's rare and not a standard move by any means.

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