Brown Gibbons & Lang (CLE office) - thoughts?
Just wanted to hear some insight on Brown Gibbons & Lang! Does anyone know anything about hours, comp, bonuses, culture, etc.
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Hours are in line with EBs. Base pay was bumped to 90k from what I hear. Average deal size is about 80M. I don’t have much location detail, but culture is known to be bad. During early covid internship and full time offers were rescinded and some junior people were fired. Not sure about bonus but base is below street so take that for what you will. Also 90k base is the lowest I’ve heard other than Truist at 87.5. I personally would stay away but that’s just me.
Their CLE office has the worst culture of any bank in the country. I would rather jump off a bridge or do Big 4 than work there. If you have nothing else, take it. If you have any other decent option, ditch BGL. BGL also reneged on half of their intern class a month before the start date during COVID. I honestly think the only reason people have heard of this firm on here is because of their notorious culture. Expect to get bodied by assholes and pitch frequently. Heard they do mostly LMM deals
How do you know this information? Have you actually heard this from people that work there? Or are you just going off what everyone else is saying on here?
Cause 90k base out of school sounds pretty good to me!
90k base sounds good until you realize your friends at literally every other bank are getting 110k, a way larger bonus, work less hours, and don't work with assholes
If this is literally your ONLY option, sure it's IB. But while 90k sounds like a lot to a college junior there are legitimate reasons the experienced people on here say to avoid it.
Talked to former analyst there and he said to avoid like the plague. 90k base seems good but street is 100k and lot of firms doing 110k. And are working way less hours. Look I know this is your offer and obviously don't want to feel like it's a bad place. If you have nothing else, take it. You'll experience the bad culture when you get there and will want to lateral ASAP. Try to make a move for FT recruiting
BGL is known as the absolute worst place to work in Cleveland for IB. MDs from other firms constantly talk down on them because of the terrible culture and deal quality vs. lifestyle. Personally would rather work as a bank teller at PNC….
Yes Cleveland sucks compared to NYC, Chicago, etc., but why make it worse working at a place like BGL?
Because 130k in CLE right out of school with the COL, you’d literally be a baller.
Before I did my SA stint I always thought that Comp > Culture, as in I could care less where I was going as long as I was getting paid.
After doing my SA and working 100hr weeks I realized that culture is probably the most important thing when working in IB. I was lucky to have some good dudes next to me at 3am rather than some fucking assholes who made it even worse than it already was.
Not at all trying to deter you from BGL but keep in mind that when you’re just talking/thinking about bad hours and bad culture it doesn’t seem as terrible. Its when you get there and actually start working when you get to really get a feel for how much the people around you matter. Good luck with everything man
You will have good dudes sitting next to you at most firms including BGL. Bad culture isn't the analysts and associates, it's asshole senior bankers that couldn't care less about their juniors.
100% feel that and understand what you’re saying here.
Thanks for that.
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