Why L/S Shops Prefer IB Guys Over ER Guys?

Hey Everyone,

I've read on several occasions that IB analysts tend to have an edge in the recruiting process. I'm curious to understand the rationale behind this preference.

While both roles involve financial modeling and valuation, it seems that ER analysts might have a closer alignment with the fundamental analysis and research-driven approach of L/S shops.

There is not much skill difference other than the stress-handling capacity one gets to gain in IB. Then, why the preference is given to the IB guys?

Is there anyone in your pod from the ER background, whats the approximate ratio of ER vs IB?

27 Comments
 

ER guys come with their own investment/valuation practices picked up during their sellside ER stint, which some funds don't like. They want someone who knows how to model, etc but is still training them with their own investment philosophy. Another reason is for fund reputation like we have these former IB guys from X,Y,Z bank working at our fund. But if work under a decent ER analyst, you should get looks from good L/S shops.

 

Its more on the analyst you work for, although the brand name does help you, so being at JPM with a good analyst better than no-name. I don't work at BB ER so would be better if someone with some experience can shed some light here

 
Most Helpful

Your whole premise is off.

MMs take ER more frequently, as they bring sector expertise. A healthcare MMPM likes to hire from an ER healthcare team.

SMs probably more IB/PE as they are often more sector agnostic or want someone with no style biases that they can train almost from scratch. But they will also hire from ER.

Everyone needs to understand that HF recruiting is a lot more unstructured than PE, so there are no silly rules of thumb. Bill Ackman has hired guys he enjoyed playing tennis with. So if you are driven and smart, just chase what you're after and be persistent.

 

So, as you have mentioned, MMPMs want sector expertise from their analysts, so what are your thoughts on the number of years it usually takes an ER analyst to know at least enough about a sector in order to get an MMPMs attention?

 
MMPM

Your whole premise is off.

MMs take ER more frequently, as they bring sector expertise. A healthcare MMPM likes to hire from an ER healthcare team.

SMs probably more IB/PE as they are often more sector agnostic or want someone with no style biases that they can train almost from scratch. But they will also hire from ER.

Everyone needs to understand that HF recruiting is a lot more unstructured than PE, so there are no silly rules of thumb. Bill Ackman has hired guys he enjoyed playing tennis with. So if you are driven and smart, just chase what you're after and be persistent.

Just wanna say that this is an accurate and good post. People on this forum act as if careers trajectories are guided by certain immutable laws but in reality it's not that black and white.

 

Becuz, they believe that they can teach the finance skills easily. So, they prefer grads from target, so that at least they can bluff in front of the clients about their harvard/wharton IB team.

Finance Major - X

Prestige - ✔️

 

Not in biotech. Don’t know a single MD/PharmD/PhD that tried IB recruiting, got rejected, then ended up in ER. They go right for ER given IB in biotech doesn’t require much on scientific expertise side. 
 

Also, ER has significantly less seats available vs IB so could argue ER tougher to land…. 
 

 

Quibusdam nulla magnam quidem dolores quasi modi nisi. Reprehenderit minima accusamus vero dolores. Voluptate nihil dicta est. Veniam molestiae rerum nisi laudantium vel harum.

Itaque et reprehenderit aut. Inventore dolor aut et dolorum nesciunt veniam quasi quia. Labore enim minima aut modi nulla consectetur pariatur ut. Aliquid et fugit quaerat non minima dolor voluptatibus. Enim laboriosam vel pariatur.

 

Quos dignissimos tenetur ut impedit ipsum. Culpa velit voluptatem sint facilis odit neque optio. Omnis corporis dignissimos nostrum alias. Et laboriosam repellendus distinctio qui quasi. Itaque sed est quo culpa expedita vitae atque ut.

Vel veniam aut itaque voluptas saepe voluptatem aut. Nihil iure iure amet ea ab optio.

Reprehenderit impedit ut dolorum enim. Sint libero excepturi aut voluptatem voluptates nulla fugiat. Ratione recusandae cum asperiores nihil et. Explicabo itaque fugiat distinctio ratione vel. Laborum ullam unde non soluta aut quas aut. Et aliquid velit cumque voluptate eius sint qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • Millennium Partners 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Blackstone Group 96.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.1%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.2%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.3%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $192
  • Analysts (240) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (28) $146
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”