Best Cultures on the Street
Heard a lot about which groups/banks have terrible cultures but was wondering which banks are known for having good cultures.
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Honestly GS TMT NY has a great culture, yes the hours are terrible but the people are generally a perfect mix of smart, outgoing and friendly.
Also has a very relaxed culture in terms of dress code (analysts wear polos/tees) and WFH (at least in GS standards). Generally also have time for an hour in the gym everyday.
I've worked across and next to GS for two consecutive deals in TMT and those guys did not seem to be logging off prior to 3am. The one analyst's eyes had such prominent dark circles, it honestly looked like he'd been in a fight. Definitely a sharp guy though, was impressed by their VPs as well.
Svb Securities…awesome group
PWP. Hands down.
Yeah maybe they’ll be the worst performing EB given their size but I’d much rather work there over known sweatshops like Moelis or Evercore
My friend who works there gets slaughtered. Work on important holidays like Thanksgiving, works on PTO days, just gets railed in general. From what I've heard some of the people there are psychos.
PTO days?? Why would you actually put in the system for PTO? Just go on vacation without using PTO then get it all paid out when you leave after 2 years.
CS has the best culture.
Specifically Tech and FSG are the best places to be.
Not only do they have best exit opps (M&A and LevFin also good), but senior employees are really chill and actually socialize with juniors.
Hours are not that bad, and if you’re gonna work late then they will let you know before hand.
Meal and Uber expenses are very generous and lenient about when/where they are ordered to.
And if you ever have an emergency or a problem, seniors are understanding and compassionate.
Loved my time there
Second that. Interned at the neighbor group of Tech this past summer and everyone wears polo and left the office by 7. Very chill group. I don’t know how “strong” the group is however
Gonna have to disagree, back when it was TMT it was a lot of fun, since the split hasn’t been the same. Deal flow (atleast 2020 and 2021) was great tho. Sponsors on the other hand may be one of the best gigs in banking. Hours are chill, happy hours almost every week, exits are top notch.
Rothschild NY has great culture
What's your definition of "best culture"? For some, that likely means an environment conducive to learning how to do this job effectively and efficiently so that, at the end of an analyst stint, you are well positioned to pursue exit opps. For others, it will mean an atmosphere that is less intense and more "collegial" (whatever that actually means). Culture is so subjective and really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I think there are banks out there with extremely aggressive and driven individuals who have built what I would describe as "winning cultures", but they get sewered regularly on this site for coming across as "mean" or "not caring about junior resources".
Now - to answer the question I think you are actually asking, which is, which banks are going to pander to new hires, I think it is extremely group specific. I have yet to come across a bank that universally treats all new hires exactly the same across groups.
There is very much a difference between being aggressive and driven vs. Simply not caring about junior resources. I also find it interesting that you say pandering to new hires. I am not really sure what you mean by that, but I think we can all pretty much agree that banks should help grow analyst into associates - it leads to better associates and teams. The amount of carrying analyst have to do for some of our MBA associates is ridiculous and our banks don't reward analyst for doing so.
I wholeheartedly agree, and considering my path to VP through the analyst ranks, and my *mostly* negative experiences with MBA Associates, I certainly think that banks should be focused on retaining high-performing analysts. To clarify my comment above, I do think this site tends to focus on some of the less important factors in defining culture when it comes to choosing a bank. While I don't condone some of the hardnose and inappropriate behavior that used to be commonplace on Wall Street, I also think a move too far in the other direction is equally detrimental. I think both sides (senior bankers/management and junior bankers) need to recognize the importance of finding a sustainable middle ground. Analysts should come into this job expecting to work hard and understand that this career path requires certain sacrifices. You are going to be compensated for your time, and if that arrangement isn't agreeable then you need to find another career. Personally, I wish I was less risk-averse and had a more creative mind because I have watched my former classmates excel in other career fields that aren't nearly as demanding because of their intellectual capabilities and hustle.
TLDR: Banks should focus on retaining solid talent which likely means improving how juniors are treated BUT juniors need to understand that this is a demanding, results driven environment that requires personal sacrifices and attracts Type A personalities which can make for an intense workplace.
We have a lot of fun over here!
Macquarie. Everyone there seems to like it (referring to maccap and mira)
William Blair Tech
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Been involved in recruitment for my alma mater. Historically based on feedback -
Barclays LA and Menlo Park; Rothschild NY; PWP generally (but excluding restructuring and potentially healthcare); some teams at BAML; William Blair generally (but excluding specific teams) this is where most people end up having a good experience. Also had a classmate at GS TMT NY team and they generally had a much better experience than peers but still a high turnover after few years.
Any group in chicago