Accept JPM or push for EB/GS/MS

For context, non diversity at a target.

Just recently got an offer with JPM’s IBD. I’m stoked to technically be out of the woods, but I can’t help but wonder if I’m crazy for still redlining myself trying to do well in other processes bc I will be disappointed if I don’t land a GS/MS/top EB offer. I’m deep with top EBs and have gotten strong feedback from alumni at GS, but GS can’t accelerate (which is an issue bc I’d have to decline JPM to go through their process). Am I crazy for feeling extremely stressed about marginal differences between JPM and PJT/EVR/CVP/MS/GS? Again, extremely grateful to be where I’m at, but I have genuine concerns bc of JPM’s group placement process and the fact that I’m optimizing for PE exits and b-school.


 
Funniest

DON'T TAKE IT! NO ONE FROM JPM HAS EVER HAD A GOOD EXIT!!! ITS TRASH!!

But seriously, why do people post shit like this? Its a good position and I'm sure you can turn it into something good. And why did you even apply if you wouldn't be happy with getting it?

 

if everyone did it and recruiters didn't care, there'd literally be no reason to have recruiting be this early and for exploding offers to exist. It’d happen junior spring. People have memories and the industry isn't that big, would be cautious about leaving a sour taste in peoples mouths tbh

 

Accept JPM and just decline later on. There are thousands of other kids with an identical profile who will be equally good at the job. JPM couldn't care less if you declined. The people you networked with who pushed for you might not give you another chance down the road, but they will definitely not care enough to cause you any issues. When I got my offer at GS I had already accepted an offer at an MM bank. No issues at all.  

 

Take JPM… these days the risk for a trade off isn’t worth it

 

GS expedites... Please dont be an idiot, and just take JPM

 

Similar position (non-div, target) with a similar choice last year. I ended up choosing to go with JP over guaranteed interviews with PJT/CVP. JP's top groups for PE exits are HC/M&A (M&C third, but still well). Group placement is tough, but if you grind it out as I did for this upcoming summer, you'll be able to land one of the ~35 spots across those three groups that have seen people exit to BX, KKR, APO, WP, Carlyle, Advent, CD&R, TPG over the past 2-3 cycles. Sure, you probably won't be able to go for something like SL/H&F from even a top group at JP, but turning down a chance to get the rest without an offer in hand seems like a pretty dumb idea. I was in the same boat and was a little stressed, but with the benefit of hindsight and things working out re. group placement, I would agree that stressing over the small differences there is not worth it. Chances are, if you're this hardo and would worry about the difference between JP and PJT, you're probably someone who will prep their ass off and do well in group placement to nab a spot in one of those three groups and be in great contention for the top PE spots. Even if you choose to decline JP for a chance at GS, you might get placed in NR/RE which are solidly below JP's top groups.

 

Why wouldn't you be able to go to a H&F, thought all opportunities are available at a top group at a BB

 

Just look at the associates at SL, H&F, and even APO. If we want to split hairs, the difference between JP and the other banks mentioned above really comes to fruition here, where those three megafunds having feeder groups (PJT RSSG to all 3, GS TMT/FIG for the first two, APO likes EB RX with occasional MS M&A, etc). I’m just saying that saying no to JP with no other offer at hand when really the only difference in exits are those three firms is pretty ridiculous.

 

It’s not an issue to prestige whore in OPs case if he really wants to exit to the shops mentioned here. JPM just isn’t as strong as others. worst case scenario, op accepts JPM, gets a return offer, guns hard for FT recruitment and lands MS. OP just accept JPM and stop overthinking it. Continue to recruit and if the opportunity arises great. If not, do the SA program and then re recruit.

 
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Be honest with JPM and the MDs spoke to.  You want to accept but need to first see if you can get an offer at CVP or GS.  Those are great banks, they will understand and let you have more time to accept.

 

I work at one of the EBs you listed.  Please for the love of your career just take JPM. We literally have 000s of applications for so so few spots. I have literally seen kids who nailed every technical get bounced in Superday because they said something stupid like "lean deal teams" for 'why this bank'. If you ping us next year with JPM M&A offer in hand and say "really enjoyed the team and would be interested in fulltime" I'm sure you'll at least get an interview for lateral. Is it as good of a shot as gettign an SA role? Obviously not but the odds are completely stacked against you. Bird in the hand. 

 

When it's the focal point of your answer, tt's showing that you haven't done any actual thinking or asked questions about the EB at which you are interviewing, or tried to understand what makes it unique. Every small bank has 'lean deal teams', so does evercore, hell Goldman has lean deal teams. The way some answer the question, it seems like they just read WSO and are telling me what they think I want to hear. It can be a part of that answer for sure, if it's part of a larger answer that makes sense and shows that you've spent more than 5 minutes thinking about this as opposed to reading a bulleted list off the 400 question guide of "why BB vs why EB"

 

I don't think you should accept it. JPM is good for normies, but if you look at the truly upper echelons of high finance, they're from elite shops like EVR or LAZ. JPM does corp banking and even (massive pfffft here) retail banking so that retail focus gives off a huge stench that stains the elite aroma of investment banking. 

M7 won't appreciate that you took the conventional path. They look for truly prestigious folks, people who took the truly elite path and aren't afraid of being  elite and embracing the prestige. 

 

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