Corporate Development opportunities

Hi folks,

I'm currently considering a jump into corporate development from a 2-year stint at a boutique IB/consulting firm. I'm looking at a few options: the first is with a large, well-known industrial company (not quite F100, but definitely F500). The other is with a much smaller, relatively young publicly-traded company without much of a brand name. My sense is that my responsibilities would be greater at the second, but the first has pretty significant brand equity. Any thoughts on which would give better options for long-term career development and which would leave better exit opps? FWIW, I'm not sure exactly what direction I want to head longer-term, and am on the fence about b-school in a few years.

Appreciate any and all thoughts, particularly from anyone in a corp dev role. Please PM if any more info on either of the two positions is helpful.

thanks, awe60

4 Comments
 

brand name is useless if you're not doing deals. all things equal, choose whichever has the stronger track record of doing deals.

 
Best Response

yes generally but your corpdev experience will vary firm to firm which is why its important to qualify the role, responsibilities, and credibility the firm gives to the team. that said, yes, lifer or move internally to head up a product group or another team. maybe b-school or pull a reversal and go back to IB. PE could be possible depending on your experience but would think MM or lower MM most realistic. not sure about VC...

 

Dolor doloremque et nisi ipsam omnis velit. Qui illo officia in a ab cumque.

Nesciunt sint ipsum nostrum iure. Ullam voluptatum vero dolores nulla exercitationem optio. Quaerat quaerat sed aut voluptate qui. Explicabo qui voluptate distinctio ut. Eveniet vero qui assumenda quo sit occaecati aliquam omnis. Placeat sit nostrum et dignissimos esse vel beatae.

Ipsam qui magnam non sapiente. Voluptatem voluptatibus amet consequatur aut sapiente corrupti architecto. Soluta at aperiam earum et et. Autem doloremque magnam odio quasi molestiae. Ex laudantium sed cum nobis culpa assumenda omnis. Ducimus atque deserunt sed.

Nobis sit corrupti voluptas saepe repudiandae non ad. Accusantium quasi hic ea itaque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”