Dipping last minute after signing offer?

Hi everyone, a long time lurker here. I got an offer to join the M&A team of a BB in London as 1st year Analyst starting in January, that I signed. However, two weeks later I got an offer to join another firm that I prefer by a wide margin.  How binding is my signature on the contract? Is it possible to sign the 2nd offer and tell the 1st BB that my plans changed? How does it work?

I know it's not necessarily ethical, but honestly have seen so much insane stuff unfold that I don't think anyone would take it personally that I'm looking after my own interests.

What do you monkeys think?

6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Finance is a smaller circle than you think. It’s risky, but i’m all for looking out for yourself first, especially in IB when they’ll fire you the second you’re no longer useful.

If you’re going to reneg, say it’s for personal reasons, keep it very vague. DO NOT update your linkedin until your probationary period is done at the new shop, and be 100% sure you never want to work for that BB again, in any part of their IBD.

Congrats on the offer, this is a great problem to have all else equal.

 

Thank you that's very helpful. Sorry for stupid question but when monkeys use the term reneg, it includes asking for a different salary or canceling the contract altogether?

Also how does it work in practice? Do you send an email to HR, they curse you and that's it?

 

Why do you prefer the other bank? The truth is, as a junior, your experience will be roughly the same across the BBs. Unless you by far like the people at the other bank's team, there is no reason to switch - and even then it's a bit of a wishy-washy reason.

There is like no upside here to reneging, pretty much only downside. 

 

it's because in the 1st BB I only hear negative news aka numerous MDs leaving and analysts being treated like shit. The people seem to be more in line with what I want in 2nd BB, and also the role is LevFin, which is something I'd much rather do

 

Et quibusdam consequatur quos in. Cum sit ut voluptas recusandae qui. Ullam sed pariatur vel doloremque aperiam. Dolores nihil consequuntur soluta commodi nostrum explicabo laudantium. Ea est repellat earum.

Et eos asperiores voluptate dolor provident. Debitis quos et rem qui debitis. Eum molestiae at est ea eaque delectus. Ad officiis nostrum nihil est autem dolor.

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 (65) $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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”