May 30, 2024

Career advice: DCM vs Credit

Hi everyone,  Recently graduated from a non-target and grateful to have received two offers but having trouble deciding between the two.

1: DCM at a Tier-2? bank (HSBC/BNPP/DB/...) Benefits:     - Good dealflow (although FIG/SSA focus is stronger)    - Higher overall comp    - Exits could include LevFin Cons:    - Much worse WLB and worse team culture    - Not much modeling, so potentially a pigeonhole career?

2: Credit analyst (under IB/CB umbrella) at a BB (BAML/JPM/Citi/...) Benefits:     - Much better WLB    - Some modeling and credit & financial analysis of counterparty / exposure through various instruments & loans    - Could open doors to private credit / direct lending roles in the future, maybe even LevFin? Cons:    - Lower comp    - Also a risk of pigeonhole within credit roles? 

The credit analyst role at a BB is not really a credit risk role, but more of deal-exposure role, with active involvement in primarily corporate banking transactions. There's some modeling, but not much exposure to the public markets and we're focused more on existing lines. I'm interested in leveraged finance, private credit, or direct lending roles, and personally at a dilemma between which would provide me better skillsets without pigeonholing my career. Any thoughts? (thanks)

11 Comments
 

Difficult from both to exit to PC as you will lack in LBO execution reps with highly levered structures. Plus the modelling in corporate banking will be leas intense as it is more relationship lending. Your best bet is trying to pivot to LevFin.

 

Thanks. Any idea which would provide a better ground to pivot to levfin? seeing DCM would provide me with FO / debt markets experience but credit could be better for learning fundamentals of credit analysis used in levfin.

 
Most Helpful

The credit analyst job that you describe not to be credit risk is indeed a credit risk role, no matter how you want to spin it. Credit risk is arguably better than DCM in that you are purportedly doing some amount and extent of fundamental credit work. But know that whatever "fundamental analysis" you end up doing would typically be skeletal. Aside from maybe JP IB risk, I don't know of a single other BB where a credit risk position involves legitimate analysis. With all that said, if all you have is DCM v CR, I'd choose CR unless that DCM position works closely with levfin and you get to do some sort of modeling/cap structure work. 

 

Beatae ullam dolorum quasi quod. Tempore iste consectetur facilis explicabo consequatur sed nesciunt id. Asperiores saepe neque aut dolorem eligendi commodi quia praesentium.

Voluptatibus et in distinctio corrupti id est autem. Vitae nesciunt incidunt ex aspernatur quidem. Voluptas reprehenderit dolorem earum. Ea accusamus non quasi sint et velit. Velit dolor aperiam quae qui velit.

Sed minus expedita deserunt culpa porro cupiditate ullam dolor. Magnam enim commodi reprehenderit est pariatur. Quia porro esse quis consequatur consequatur est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”