Very boutique ibank

I'm getting offered an analyst position at a small (read: small) ibank. With few other prospects looming, I'm wondering if I should take this position or not. I've spoken to another ibank friend who said "hey, some ibanking is better than no ibanking".

Worries are that I won't receive good training, but the pro is that I'd hopefully get great exposure to deals. I figure I could just supplement my knowledge with a Dealmaven or Wall Street Prep program.

16 Comments
 

Honestly, training doesn't matter all that much. You'll learn everything you need to know on the desk...even if it is a very small (read: small) desk.

Good luck!

 

What small (read small) boutique investment bank is it? I need to find some boutique banks in the St. Louis area; only one I know is A.G. Edwards, which is a middle market investment bank and not really a small boutique one.

 

Hey, I was the second poster in this thread. 'Desk' in this instance doesn't necessarily refer to a trading desk - my bank uses the term for corpfin as well. My advice definitely still applies.

To be honest, a few of my friends who went through middle market/boutique training end up better prepared than those of us at BBs because they get substantially more attention from the senior analysts/associates who run the programs. I had to sit through Scott Rostan and AMT - good stuff but with 100+ kids in your class it's hard to get too much out of it.

 
do it for a year, then try moving into a big bank. And at a small bank, the compensation might be less, but you also work better hours(not true for some banks), and you get more exposure to deals. So a year from now you'll have much more experience than an analyst at a bigger bank.

Disclaimer: The post above has been made by someone who is not currently employed in IBD, and has not had an interview yet...

 

VERY small boutiques might not get much deal flow. If you don't have deal flow, you'll just do pitches all the time, and that would make it a shitty experience and a lateral difficult. Not to mention, no business = shit bonus. If it's all you have and they have a shitty deal flow, then it might still be worth it, but it's tough to say. If it's got solid deal flow (or at least a few a year) and deals that are somewhat sophisticated (ie. not them advising delis on buying other delis), then go for it.

"To Know Me Is To Love Me"-Jebus Price

 

Boutique MM banks with national presence should be very competitive. I work for a prominent boutique, we have unbelievable deal flow, and the pay is very comparable to Wall Street. Bonus: 75-100% of salary. Getting great exposure to all steps of the sell-side process, and exceptional face time with my associates, VPs and MDs. Can't say I would take it over a BB position, as I have never worked for one, but I am having a terrific experience and it would take a lot to persuade me to leave.

 

Where can I search for Boutique MM bank internship opportunities? Are they called boutique in real world or is just this forum's term? Thanks!

 

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