Offer Decision: Baird vs. Houlihan Lokey (Chicago)

What HL group?

You should know going from Chicago IB (or anywhere not NYC IB) to NYC buyside isn't all that easy.

Both are top notch MM groups. It definitely depends on what groups you are deciding between.

Baird and HL consumer groups?

Industrials is HL's largest group in Chicago. Food is next then Healthcare. Purely size but I've heard industrials is the best also.

Just out of curiosity, if this is for full time, how are these offers still outstanding? I thought decisions had to be made before Christmas time haha

I'd pick HL over Baird. I heard there's better internal mobility at HL. Obviously depends on the group but if it's RX then hands down HL. Though IIRC, Baird has nicer offices. HL is on the fourth floor or something with no view haha.

CFR is by far HL's top group in Chicago, although CFR is almost exclusively F&B executed out of there so most exposure will be to one vertical. They have been LIGHTS OUT recently. Is this for a 1st year or lateral role?

If rx HL if not I don't know. Haven't even heard of the non HL name

HL industrials in Chicago is quite possibly the sweatiest group in the entire city, MBA grad friend of mine went in as an associate, made it one year, closed nothing, quit straight up, no pending offer anywhere else. Said they stretched him to the brink. I’m not an M&A/verticals guy, so take what I’m saying w/ a grain or two, but to pitch and pitch and pitch like that, never close, and also be abused, seems like a lot. Baird’s consumer group has a good reputation, I think better than HL’s industrials. Oh and last point, he tried to lateral into their RX group and his VP blocked him. GL

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