So I have done research on the corpdev recruiting cycle - It seems like there actually isn't one. From what I have seen it is nothing like PE and jobs just pop up whenever they are available (rather than a certain time of year). Because of this, I have a few questions on how to make my way into the industry. Before, some background on me is I work at a BB in IB but in a non M&A/LevFin product group (its a group unique to the bank). Its actually a very strategy focused group, so hopefully the variety of projects will help differentiate me.
1 - how to get an interview? It seems like asking my MD to refer me or just applying online is the best way. Is that true?
2 - Anything to know for interviews except IB stuff? Like any strategy components?
3 - If anyone has any general advice you wish you knew at the beginning of the process, please feel free to reply.
Thanks all!
Bump
I'm a bit late to this, but here's my take, for what it's worth.
You're correct. There's no recruiting cycle for the majority of groups. Groups run extremely lean, maybe three to five people who are actually on the M&A team. This usually includes the VP/MD (depending on what firm you're at), a manager, and then an analyst or two.
Because they are so lean they usually hire only when someone leaves, which is very random. I've had different experiences getting into the interview process before I was hired to my team now.
The first go around I applied to a company in a non-M&A role. HR said I fit the M&A candidate role and gave me an interview. From there, it was all personality fit. Right away I could tell the MD and I were just two different people, he was nice enough, but I knew I couldn't work for him.
I got my current job through a recruiter. Another person on my team also got his job through a recruiter. There were quite a few candidates brought in to interview (so I was told) and the decision was based on fit. Yes, they want to know that you can work in excel, that you've gone through financial statements, dug into assumptions, that you're not brain dead. But they really want to know if they can get along with you and that you fit the tone of the group.
So, tell them about your current role, how it applies, etc, but show them how your personality applies to the group and role too when you get an interview.
Knowing what I know now, I would have networked more with analyst/associate level people in M&A groups. My group is thinking about adding another analyst and they looked at me and said, "Who do you know?"
That being said, now I'm networking with analysts and managers in other M&A groups so when a position higher up on the rung opens up, I'll be top of mind when they get asked, "Who do you know?".
Corp. Dev (Originally Posted: 10/28/2009)
What is the best way to enter corporate development for a Fortune 500 company? Do you usually use headhunters or do they post it on their website? if headhunters, which headhunters do they use? Thanks in advance.
Great question. I'd like to know as well. My guess is (and this is only a guess) but check the head hunters websites. Should each headhunters website say their specialty?
I spoke with someone at a Fortune 500 company and he said that they are required by law to post all job openings on their website (as opposed to just some). Not sure if this is true or not for corporate development.
Use Doostang, headhunters and websites for the specific companies you're targeting.
it seems like Doostang has stopped their services. Would you be able to tell me if any other websites like Doostang which also curate Corp dev jobs?
Not sure about required by law, but yes, nearly all jobs at Fortune 500's are posted on their careers sites. Catch it, often the descriptions are so cryptic, and the listings so buried, that you'd never find them. Even if you do, your chances from a resume drop are slim.
So - network in. I am increasingly convinced this is the only way to get a job. Find a friend of a friend, a friend's dad, the bum on the corner - literally anyone that works at the company that can refer you to the correct person. It makes a world of difference. I got interview in Corp Dev at two top media companies, and several technology companies (MSFT, Amazon, Cisco, etc) through networking, after beating down the doors through the careers sites and Doostang for months.
I cannot stress it enough - network your ass off.
captk, is that what your doing now?
hey there! I’m really interested to work in Corp dev/strategy at Microsoft Game Studios. However, I have noticed that the three main types of profiles feeding into those roles at MSFT are the following: EB/BB analyst, MBB AC, and someone who fought his/her way up from a no name gaming/engineering company.
I don’t fall into any of those buckets since I’ll be starting my career at an MM boutique, but would you have any advice as to who I should reach out to? so far, I’ve sent LinkedIn inmails to employees who fit the profile but I haven’t gotten any bites. Running out of people who fit that profile so I may have to tap into people who work in ancillary functions. I’ve also reached out to some of my friends who will be joining MSFT soon but they are so far removed from Xbox gaming that they may as well be working in different firms.
I don’t want to spend hours every day figuring this out because I also need to practice reps on Wall Street Prep to maximize my learning before I start my current job, so I really need some specific advice on what I should do/who I should reach out to.
I would appreciate any advice you could spare.
If you've worked before at an internal strategy group or at a management consulting firm, a LOT of postings for corporate development are circulated. I can say this first hand from my experience at MBB.
If you are an undergrad looking to break into corp development, take advantage of the recruiting services at your school. Even if employers aren't recruiting for corp dev per se, attend sessions and ask about it - follow up, and be persistent. Know of several students at one top ivy league university that networked their way into a Fortune 500 technology firm that came to recruit for computer science but eventually interviewed interested students for the business/product management/marketing sides.
Breaking Bankers
Chase Us, Break In! http://chasingconsultantsbreakingbankers.blogspot.com/
go gators
Also, what are typical hours for a top-tier corporate development job? When not closing a deal obviously.
BUMP!
Corporate Dev F500 (Originally Posted: 08/12/2017)
How plausible is it to move from Fp&a to corporate dev? And if there was a corporate dev role you were interested in and you had just started a new Fp&a role a few months ago would it be frowned upon to try for it by the corporate dev company? I'm not a job hopper (stayed at my old company longer than I should have and am behind on career development at 30).
I've got some limited acquisition/acquisition integration (one deal, I lead the project from conception to eventual integration, dealt with the owners, helped secure tax incentives from local/state govs, built the model for a disparate purchase vs the core business, wrote the entire justification and did 100% of modeling, etc.) experience and tons of experience building models for Fp&a purposes. Would this help me get a senior analyst position with a F500?
At the senior analyst level what would you suspect the pay would be in a smaller market? I'm assuming corporate dev comp > Fp&a?
It's possible, but would be tough. The easiest way to do it would to be a good performer at your current company, and then apply internally with your company's corp dev group. I would expect corp dev comp to be above fp&a comp by a decent margin. Senior analyst in corp dev at my company makes ~100k base (large city). I would guess an fp&a senior analyst is more like 70-75k, but not totally sure.
Yea. That base is low at my company for senior analyst in Fp&a. I figured it'd be tough.
its possible but situational. we have a guy on our team who transitioned internally from fp& - a high performer.
Bump interested to know as well
Bump interested to know as well
What’s the best way to maximize the likelihood of getting an interview for either the FRP or BizOps programs? Networking and impressing someone enough to get an employee referral?
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