CFA/MBA for Corp Dev?

Which one for Corp Dev? Most guys on the team I'm trying to break into are on their level 2+3's. But generally for the job market, which has more leverage coming from a non target?

4 Comments
 

People conflate these way too often...These are tooootally and completely separate. I am currently enrolled in and MBA - reason I did it is to have access to the recruiting pipeline. The CFA is a distinction, there is no "pipeline." You don't graduate from b-school then go looking for a job. You do it to recruit for a summer internship then get FT offer after.

 

I'll specify for other readers - currently FT but not in corp dev, so access to pipeline is professional and not via b-school. Although the specific team in corp dev is working towards the designation, does the mba in fin weigh more than CFA in the general labor market assuming I don't pursue MBA?     

 

Well the thing is MBA has direct placements as in...I go on my school's career website and sign up for coffee chats at XYZ banks, do that, first round, super day etc. So it's much less of a struggle than trying to "break in."

Same goes for corp dev I think. I don't usually keep an eye out but I know I've seen finance roles across FB/Apple/whatever else. It's much different if you apply through the career website and more or less automatically have at minimum an informational interview which will lead to a first round. There is no 'portal' for a CFA to do that. In my opinion it is one of the most valuable aspects of business school - literally the school's career website. 

 

Velit laboriosam vel saepe aperiam. Assumenda minus iusto aspernatur dolores commodi. Incidunt similique beatae omnis vitae nulla incidunt error in. Porro quia occaecati velit debitis sint quibusdam laudantium.

Ducimus tenetur ut et est qui impedit saepe laborum. Veniam odit aspernatur voluptatum assumenda deleniti numquam voluptas. Explicabo dicta ut eveniet nostrum a et.

Authored by: Certified Corporate Development Professional - Director

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”