5 Years experience in IB/PE, what title should I target in Corp Strat/Dev?
Thanks for any insight in advance. Currently an Associate in MM PE looking to make the transition into Corp Dev/Strategy (open to early/late/mature stage companies primarily geared towards tech). As title states, have five years total experience in IB and PE including direct management experience of more junior resources/teams. When applying for jobs in corporate dev/strat, what title should I be targeting that is aligned with this level of experience?
I've received looks/interviews for everything from "Manager" to "Director" ranging from early stage businesses to F100 companies. Acknowledging that title/role varies heavily from place to place, but is there a particular hierarchical position I should be asking for that (i) doesn't undersell my experience and (ii) avoids underachieving expectations?
Any insight for those who have made a similar transition, or have helped onboard similar types of candidates, would be really appreciated!
If you switch careers you’ll probably have to come in as an analyst again. Best case scenario an “experienced” analyst. Best advice to you would be pursue a compliance/risk role if you want to taste that juicy Work/Life balance and still bring in a ~30% bonus
Dumbest advice given... you’d never have to be an analyst again unless you’re completely switching fields like wanting to become a software engineer lol..
You’d prolly be able to be a Manager / Sr Manager and possibly a Director at some companies. Some companies don’t even have a “manager” title and that Director would manage the associates & analysts on the Corp Dev team and then the Director rolls up to the VP of Corp Dev
FYI: VP of Corp Dev = a MD in IB
Manager - Sr. Manager would a baseline. I don't think you'd need to go back to analyst.
Yeah, manager / senior manager / associate director. Depends on how many junior monkeys you'd manage and how the company structures the dept.
Thanks all really appreciate the responses. Sounds like Manager/Senior Manager is fair game here.
I know compensation varies widely but any sense what would be fair for this position at a F500 non-FAANG role in a high COL city? Have gotten reads all over the place (including on this forum), so any color would be very helpful here.
my guess is something between $150 and 200k (maybe top end a tad higher?), factors as usual being the relative importance of M&A to the company (strategic / P&L contribution), and who controls acquisition strategy / sourcing. also industry, ex. tech typically pays more.
Go to B school and come back taking CEO role at one of those companies
I've had two separate corporate development stints at publicly traded companies (I left at Director level and had no IBD or PE experience).
Depending on the company, I think you should be looking at Director roles and I wouldn't hesitate to apply for VP level roles.
Maybe a manager or Sr. Manager at a tech company that's very competitive (FAANG).
Omnis voluptates vitae quae est non harum culpa magnam. Temporibus natus sint nemo quas laudantium consequatur voluptas. Laboriosam explicabo facilis quam enim sequi eligendi. Facere dolores eius sequi exercitationem. Officiis et excepturi similique aut optio repudiandae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...