Is it time to Move On or Stick Around? (Corp Dev)
Hi everyone,
I’d appreciate some advice or perspectives on my current situation.
I’ve been on a Corp Dev team at a big company for about three years. Coming from a non-target, I feel very fortunate to be in this role. The team has a great culture, and I’ve received strong mentorship from my leaders. Comp is decent (~$90k base) for a low-to-medium cost-of-living area.
However, I have one growing concern: deal experience. So far, I’ve only closed one deal and completed a strategy project. I’ve worked on other deals and projects, but they rarely progress past the IOI stage, despite the heavy lifting involved (e.g., modeling, material creation, etc.). While the company has closed several deals during my time here, I’ve only been staffed on one sell-side deal to completion. This isn’t due to favoritism—it’s more about luck of the draw in how deal flow is allocated across the team.
At this point, I feel like I’ve plateaued in terms of learning. For my professional development, I really need to be staffed on a buy-side deal that moves into due diligence. Leadership has acknowledged this and is trying to help, but it’s dependent on deal flow, and there are others on the team who also need experience.
On a personal note, I’m also finding the area I live in a bit boring. Dating has been challenging, as most people here are already settled down. I’m starting to worry that my 20s are slipping away without much excitement or growth outside of work. However, I have made friends here and have found things to do in my free time.
Is it time to start looking for another role? Given that I’ve been in Corp Dev for three years but only have one deal under my belt, will it be an uphill battle to transition? I feel lucky to have this role, especially given the current hiring slowdown, and I’m hesitant to rock the boat if we’re heading into a recession.
Alternatively, would it make more sense to stick around, gain more experience, and prepare for the GMAT to pursue business school in the future?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, your situation is not uncommon in Corporate Development, especially in teams where deal flow is inconsistent. Here’s a breakdown of your options and considerations:
1. Stick Around and Build Your Profile
Cons:
Recommendation: If you choose this route, set a clear timeline (e.g., 12-18 months) to evaluate whether you’ve gained the experience you need. Use this time to prepare for the GMAT and explore MBA programs that align with your career goals.
2. Start Exploring New Opportunities
Cons:
Recommendation: If you decide to explore new roles, focus on companies with a strong deal pipeline or those in industries with active M&A activity. Highlight your modeling and strategic project experience during interviews, as these are transferable skills.
3. Pursue an MBA
Cons:
Recommendation: If you’re leaning toward an MBA, start preparing for the GMAT now and aim for Round 1 applications next year. Programs like Darden, Johnson, or Tepper could be good fits based on your background and goals.
Final Thoughts:
Given your concerns about both professional growth and personal fulfillment, it might make sense to start exploring new roles while simultaneously preparing for the GMAT. This way, you keep your options open and can make a more informed decision based on the opportunities that arise. If you don’t find a suitable role within a set timeframe, you’ll still have the MBA path as a strong fallback.
Remember, the key is to take proactive steps now—whether that’s networking, applying to roles, or studying for the GMAT—so you’re not stuck in the same position a year from now. Good luck!
Sources: Corporate Development: My Experiences and Background, CorpDev to PE prospects - creating a long-term map / success stories, Corporate Development: My Experiences and Background, Having serious thoughts about B-school for the first time - can anyone offer any advice?, Year 1 in consulting - tips, tricks, advice, and unspoken rules.
What's the staffing model? Maybe you can push to be staffed on a live deal / one that gets to DD (argue that you're a good performer, adding capacity will improve the overall process, etc.), sounds like it should be "your turn" eventually.
Otherwise it sounds like you should try moving both professionally and socially. From a recruitment perspective I wouldn't hold it against you having only one closed deal because deals falling through / not happening is the nature of the beast; from your end, you need to have your stories about your experience/role in the deal that did close really polished and be able to discuss what you did even in the earlier stage stuff (sourcing, intro calls, valuation scratch, etc.)
Thanks, cap. Appreciate the response. The way staffing works is that the analysts will be assigned to a company, and any action related to that company will be delegated to that analyst. This could be as simple as refreshing the overview of the company for an executive or building/refreshing the model. If it enters into a live process, then that analyst will work on it. For inbounds, they are usually delegated based on who has capacity to work on it. On our team, only one analyst has been lucky enough to work on all the buy sides. Again it’s just luck, I was working on things simultaneously while those deals were live.
I guess the issue would be if someone else’s deal goes live, I don’t know if it would be fair to them to put me on it. There’s others on the team who don’t have experience either, but they haven’t been on the team as long as I have. But I will ask if that situation arises.
Distinctio eum possimus quos et. Blanditiis corrupti quia suscipit optio enim adipisci. Illo unde est deleniti blanditiis inventore et harum architecto. Laudantium et sit est ut 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...