Chicago Exit Ops

I am currently in the interview process in Chicago with several banks, with a few offers on the table. The banks are 'elite' boutiques, regional BBs, and multiple upper MM firms. I really like one of the upper MMs (Baird/Blair), but want to know how that will affect my opportunities two and three years down the road.

How difficult is it to make a jump from a Baird/Blair to an upper MM PE firm inside, or outside, of the Chicago area. Also, I hate ranking firms, but which Chicago bank generally allows for the best exits for analysts. Aiming upper MM PE, not aiming for a mega fund.

22 Comments
 
Best Response

Baird and Blair Chicago both have a very strong reputation with MM PE funds. Analysts in the past have gone to MDP and GTCR, both upper MM funds in Chicago, as well as many other $1bn+ funds (Genstar, FFL, Summit, TA Associates, and Riverside to name a few).

Obviously, GS, CS, MS, and the other Chicago EB/BB's have great placement as well, albeit more regionally focused too.

Making it to an upper MM fund in NYC/SF/LA/Boston would be more of an uphill battle, but not entirely out of the question.

 

Doesn't matter by the location. Only group and company.

No one ever says, "Oh you did IB with Goldman in Chicago, so I think I'll go with someone who was with JP in NY..." IB at a BB anywhere, is still IB across the board. (but everyone wants to be in NY)

Goldman's coming off a banner year, so they've got the street buzzing. They're certainly in the limelight for now...

"Cut the burger into thirds, place it on the fries, roll one up homey..." - Epic Meal Time
 
vadremcDoesn't matter by the location. Only group and company.

No one ever says, "Oh you did IB with Goldman in Chicago, so I think I'll go with someone who was with JP in NY..." IB at a BB anywhere, is still IB across the board. (but everyone wants to be in NY)

This is completely wrong, lol. Actually, someone would say "Oh you did IB with Goldman in Chicago, so I think I'll go with someone who was with JP in NY..." (all else equal) since JPM NY is a better experience (deal flow wise, prestige wise, etc.) than Goldman Chicago.

 

I have heard that group matters.

So which groups in Chicago have the best exit opportunities? I read here that UBS LA, etc all place into excellent PE shops, but how do Chicago offices place into these excellent shops?

Anybody know someone who went to a top-level PE shop from a Chicago office?

TIA.

 

There are an incredibly large number of MM PE shops located in Chicago that would be interested in someone with Chicago PE experience. A large number of analysts from my bank end up in Chicago at PE firms each year. I will say that Chicago has some sort of "Private Equity Professional Association" that makes a resume book sometime in early Spring and many PE firms use it to hire pre-MBA positions. I didn't apply to any Chicago PE firms last year so I unfortunately don't have any additional details for you, but I suspect senior professionals at your firm will be aware of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Second the previous post. Having [unsuccessfully] superdayed at one of the mentioned banks, I managed to learn that many of its analysts proceeded to work for Chicago PE firms. UChicago and NWs' business schools are right there as well.

 

Incidunt aperiam voluptas odit. Commodi aut eos laborum excepturi veniam dolorum. Et excepturi ut id doloribus aut. Est et doloremque itaque. Officia quos atque vitae perspiciatis ducimus maiores qui qui. Corporis voluptas dolores excepturi voluptatum ut totam id recusandae. Eveniet vel fugit perferendis quia doloremque.

Autem sint consequuntur et nihil. Quasi libero expedita quos non reprehenderit dicta voluptas consequatur. Consequatur ullam aspernatur odio est minus numquam. Ducimus doloremque quo veniam laborum aut vel amet. Nulla dignissimos reprehenderit odit quae voluptatum quas. In aliquid soluta corporis totam expedita ut saepe.

Molestias eos accusantium fuga. Fuga earum consequatur optio non velit omnis similique. Voluptates sed adipisci dolorum quo. Sit nesciunt ut sunt adipisci repudiandae voluptatem. Eaque consequatur in voluptatem omnis iusto. Quia ut error hic numquam aliquid et.

 

Temporibus repellat voluptatem totam minus voluptas ipsa numquam. Dolorem et rerum nobis voluptas et in minus. Quidem occaecati accusantium et qui qui ut unde. Nobis est velit rerum fugit.

Repellendus et voluptas qui repellat optio delectus. Earum sed veritatis sed dolor. Eos velit non ducimus et ea.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”