BAML vs. Barclays: Better Exit opps/B-school placement?

I have generalist Summer Analyst (IBD) offers from BAML and Barclays. In the future, I'm interested in working on M&A and financial sponsor deals, and want to work for the bank that will put me in the best position to accomplish the following long-term goals (see: within 2-3 years)

  1. Work for a major PE firm like KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle, etc

  2. Gain admission to HBS, Stanford, or Wharton (I already have the basic numeric qualifications to at least be considered at these schools)

Also, what do you think BAML's reputation will be like in the near future? It's been killing it in the league tables recently, but how is it respected by B-schools and PE firms?

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks!!

48 Comments
 
tothedeath
1. Work for a major PE firm like KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle, etc

aw, that's cute. you have a 0.000012% chance of getting into megafund from either of these places - sorry.

This coming from a "Prospective Monkey"... Keep your mouth shut until you start working.

Its all about networking and performance. If you are top bucket, your MD loves your work and they have connections, they can help you get in there. Tougher than coming from GS... but not impossible.

 

Not true at all. I know plenty of folks from both at megafunds. There are lots of solid legacy Merrill and Lehman groups at both banks. If you do well in a good group, you'll have great exit opps.

 
Pierce_and_PierceNot true at all. I know plenty of folks from both at megafunds. There are lots of solid legacy Merrill and Lehman groups at both banks. If you do well in a good group, you'll have great exit opps.

Considering that they only take a handful of people every year (5 last year for KKR, 3 for BX, not sure about #s for Carlyle), I strongly doubt that you know "plenty of folks from both at megafunds."

 

No one can give you the answer to this question. Both banks are sort of in a "transitioning" period. Considering you won't be interviewing for PE jobs for another two years, just go with the one that you feel is the best fit for you.

 

Over the last 10 years, and particularly during the recent PE boom of 2004-2007, many of my BB colleagues went to the buyside. A good number were from Merrill and Lehman (more from Merrill). Believe it or not, many associates and principals at these places are from outside the revered "top tier" BB's. Obviously, all else equal, it's easier from GS to break into a good PE shop, especially nowadays, but that is no reason to blindly select a job at the more "prestigious" bank. It's unbelievable how many ambitious analysts are burned because they do not fit with the group they're placed in. Without the backing of your colleagues and superiors, obtaining good exit opps is much harder, regardless of which bank you're at.

 
fembotmapierce u are so full of crap
Says the college junior interning at UBS. I'd rather jump off a cliff than work for UBS.
 
fembotmaand yea its an intern what if i get goldman next year?
LOL, good luck. You're gonna need it.
 
Best Response

You asked about b-school admission. Let's be clear here, the adcoms at b-schools do NOT engage in stupid arguments over which firm is more prestigious.

All the top-tier banks look the exact same to the adcoms. Adcoms have general knowledge of which banks, consulting firms, etc. are "top tier", but it doesn't get any more granular than that. And they certainly don't keep track of which desks or groups are better at one bank vs. another. To the adcoms BofAML = Barcap = Goldman = everyone else.

B-school admissions are NOT based on who held the most prestigious job, but rather what you did while you were there. In addition, "diversity" matters, so the last thing they want is too many people in a class all from the same bank or group. The point is to set yourself apart and argue what type of unique contributions you can make to your class.

Too many people on these boards seem to think that 3 yrs as an analyst at Goldman or 2 years at McKinsey guarantee automatic acceptance to H/W/S. B-school admissions should be the LAST thing on your mind when deciding between 2 job offers....

 

I am sorry bunkerbanker but you are wrong. Only a few associates and VPs were cut last week at BofA ML, primarily in Healthcare and Real Estate. This should be not surprising considering where those markets are going.

Regarding BofA ML versus BarCap, I believe BofA is better positioned over the next few years to take market share as it reaps the benefits of acquiring Merrill. However, each bank will help you achieve your long term goals.

 
Seth DavisI am sorry bunkerbanker but you are wrong. Only a few associates and VPs were cut last week at BofA ML, primarily in Healthcare and Real Estate. This should be not surprising considering where those markets are going.

Regarding BofA ML versus BarCap, I believe BofA is better positioned over the next few years to take market share as it reaps the benefits of acquiring Merrill. However, each bank will help you achieve your long term goals.

Regarding BofA ML versus BarCap, I believe BarCap is better positioned over the next few years to take market share as it reaps the benefits of acquiring Lehman. However, each bank will help you achieve your long term goals.

 

Depends on group. If M&A, Financial Sponsors or LevFin - no question. Definitely BAML. However, these groups are filled from summers from other groups and accelerated interviews from summers at other banks.

Media and Telecom and Natural Resources see better dealflow at BarCap.

C&R, Real Estate, FIG, and Industrials see more dealflow at BAML, but I don't know how BarCap analysts in those groups placed. BAML TMT placed well last year. Of the 6 analysts, I know 1 going to Warburg, 1 to Silverlake, and 1 to TPG.

But to be honest if you're good, you'll succeed regardless of whatever bank. Go where you think you'll be best taken care of.

 

hey guys...

i have a first round interview with BAML LA coming up this week...any info would help! (SA not FT)

insight on how technical/fit the first round is? or any specific qs would be great!! feel free to PM me or post here.

thanks in advance!

 

Yea pretty much all of BAML debt businesses are killing it. Pay is good down there, especially considering the cost of living. LevFin works real hard, but hey, its banking.

Is Barcalys in NYC? I think both are great opportunities and it should come down to which city you want to live in. I think most would select NYC.

If you go to Charlotte rent a boat and go drinking on lake Normand with the other analysts. I have to say the city itself is verrry slow. People on this list crap on Boston for not being a party city. It dwarfs Charlotte. Charlotte is very similar to Stamford CT.

 

Guys, thanks a lot for your response. Honestly I dont think I would mind the slower pace, the good weather and cheaper cost of living offsets that for me. BCbanker, Barclays is in NY. Living preferences aside, I want to get solid deal flow and execution experience. The way I see it lev fin gets me a solid skill set and understanding of how debt works, which would be killer for pe and credit related hedge funds but Im not sure how many interviews I will get living in NC and even if I do, my ability to go to the interviews if they are in NY. Fig does all their m&a so definitely quant skills there but to me, I value a lev fin skill set more. Recruiting on the other hand may be easier. Thanks again for your help.

 

to the OP,

BAML also has a LevFin team here in New York (they are slowly moving people as the BofA tower just opened). Inquire if you can transfer/

 

Guys, thanks again for your helpful input. ibhopeful532, baml does have half their team in NY but from what they told me they have already filled the analyst spots in NY and need people in charlotte. I am trying to convince them to let me stay in NY but not sure if they will agree due to almost no analysts being in charlotte. If I am able to convince the team to let me work from NY I think I would take baml lev fin hands down. Thanks again for your help guys.

 
BCbankerBefore ML merger would have gone Barclays for sure, but now BAML dominates the league tables. Def BAML. BAML in NY is really the old ML team.

Not quite, most of the Merrill Bankers jumped ship after the merger. Look at DB and boutiques.

KICKIN ASS AND TAKING NAMES
 

They're both good shops with good exit ops and are fairly equivalent in that sense. Decide base don who you preferred interviewing with.

 
Banker88Just curious how you're posting for a FT position at this time...thought they finished recruiting months ago.

I was wondering this too. I know for a fact that both Barcap and BAML finished recruiting. This must have been through some connection

 

Keep in mind that deferrals do happen, and in that case spots need to be filled very late in the cycle. I would imagine that is what happened here...

 

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