Wondering if any non-targets/people with unconventional backgrounds have successfully broken into an EB. I've set up a few phone calls with mid-level bankers at EBs and I'm wondering if it would be a more efficient use of my time to focus strictly on the lower-tier BBs and top MMs that 5-10 top kids at my school go to every year.
| +95 | [2026 - October] Unbiased Prestige Rankings | 58 | 31m |
| +88 | Who is the final boss in Houston Energy? (GS, JEFF or EVR) | 23 | 4h |
| +81 | You should probably leave IB | 27 | 7h |
| +46 | Why Do We Turn Comments? | 11 | 2h |
| +43 | Tomorrow Will Be Better | 5 | 4d |
| +41 | Moelis PCA vs Lower tier BB Coverage | 30 | 1d |
| +26 | Lateraling as Analyst | 25 | 1h |
| +26 | Banking (Un)fortunately Still Needs You: My Case for Bankers in the AI Era | 4 | 2h |
| +24 | How much should you ask questions / seek feedback as an intern? | 9 | 14h |
| +24 | UBS IB #24 in US M&A in 2026 | 10 | 11h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
I would recommend you to check if there are other non target kids who broke into the firm on LinkedIn to gauge the possbility. I know one non-target kid break into EB cuz the founder is a family friend.
Why not do both? Networking doesn't really take up all that much time. Just sending emails and taking some phone calls.
Remember that corny motivational poster from high school that read "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."? They weren't joking. You need to cast the widest net possible.
Check out my networking overview. I touched on this, but you should be looking for other non-targets who broke in.
No kidding, I was just looking at that. Infinite thanks for putting that together.
If you're open to contributions, I found that using a pivot table in conjunction with your cold email tracker spreadsheet can give a helpful breakdown of your contacts by firm or by role and help you streamline the whole effort.
Great tip!
I know a guy from my non-target who went into an EB with some good networking and is now at a mega PE group.
At the end of the day, networking is always worth it.
Update if anyone cares: had a 15 min call with a VP at EVR/LAZ/GHL that culminated in him offering to send my res in for summer 2018 recruitment! Hoping this means I can count on a first round...
Well done, that is fantastic. Go for it!
I went to a target with 3.7. A vp at EVR/LAZ/GHL forwarded my CV. Still no first round. Just one VP is not enough. Talk to more ppl.
Ut laudantium quidem sapiente ut velit doloribus. Ut maiores neque quia quas et omnis. Dolor dolorem incidunt tempore nisi. Officiis accusamus ea deserunt atque in. Architecto consectetur est est sunt.
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...