DB Exits 2025?

I am wondering how DB exits in 2025 for PE? I understand that bank, GPA, and school matter the most, and I attended a target graduating with a 3.8+ GPA. I am not targeting the MFs of the world, but more so trying to target MM firms for a longer-term seat.  I am wondering how feasible this is or if I should look to exit?

 Did not recruit in the first year, and I am about to become a second-year analyst. So far, have gotten outreach about MM and some UMM opportunities, but unsure exactly how this works/if I will get interviews after that stage, as I haven't engaged with headhunters much post my initial set-up calls.  

Edit: I see the UBS people are still here, throwing MS on me (I mean, 3 MS in 10 minutes for a post asking questions on WSO isn't exactly common) for calling one of you out for having alts. I don't even work at your bank, can you just leave me alone? I would love to get this question answered as I try to figure out the next steps in my career.  

14 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, your situation as a second-year analyst at DB with a target school background and a strong GPA (3.8+) positions you well for MM PE opportunities. Here’s what you need to know:

  1. Feasibility of MM PE Exits:

    • Exiting to MM PE is highly feasible, especially with your academic credentials and target school background. MM firms often value candidates with solid technical skills and a strong work ethic, which you likely developed during your time at DB.
    • While you may not have recruited in your first year, the outreach you’ve received for MM and UMM opportunities indicates that you’re on the radar of headhunters and firms.
  2. Engaging with Headhunters:

    • It’s crucial to engage more actively with headhunters. As noted in WSO threads, headhunters play a significant role in PE recruiting, especially for MM firms. They often act as gatekeepers, passing along only the top candidates to their clients.
    • Use your setup calls to express your interest in MM PE and clarify your long-term goals. This will help them position you better for relevant opportunities.
  3. Interview Process:

    • Once you secure interviews, your resume becomes less critical, and the focus shifts to your technical skills, deal experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared for modeling tests, case studies, and behavioral questions.
    • Networking with professionals in MM PE can also help you gain insights into specific firms and their interview processes.
  4. Next Steps:

    • If you’re serious about MM PE, continue building relationships with headhunters and professionals in the space. Leverage your DB experience to highlight your deal exposure and technical expertise.
    • If you’re unsure about your current trajectory, consider lateraling to a top-performing group at another bank, as this could enhance your profile for future recruiting cycles.

Your background and current position make you a competitive candidate for MM PE. Focus on networking, engaging with headhunters, and preparing for interviews to maximize your chances.

Sources: Q&A 2.0: 3rd Year BA/A/AC At MBB Going To UMM/MF This Summer, Q&A: 2nd year BA/A/AC at MBB going to UMM/MF in 2020, MM/UMM PE Analyst Exits, Q&A: Non Targ -> BB Coverage Group -> Incoming MM PE, Q&A: 2nd year BA/A/AC at MBB going to UMM/MF in 2020

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Really depends what group. If FSG/LevFin/REGLL, then MM/UMM is absolutely doable, could even stretch for MF but it is likely way too late for that now. Other groups you'll have to be a bit more aggressive in your approach and cast a wider net. 

 

Got it, how would you recommend being more aggressive? I am also casting a wide net, since I understand I am somewhat late to this process. I thought the processes were run all by headhunters, so far have only gotten outreach solely from HH. Everyone that Ik that has gotten MM/UMM roles has gotten them through responding to HH outreach and then getting interviews. So would love to know how I can be more aggressive in this process if it's run by headhunters? Also, what type of firms/sizes should someone not in the top groups target? Curious here because from HH convos, it was communicated to me that school, GPA, and bank are the most important things, not necessarily group. 

 

It definitely isn't true that for DB it doesn't matter as much which group you're in–sure, you might get HH outreach similar to that of those 3 groups (which I would honestly find unlikely for DB), but as far as getting into processes and interviews and in turn eventually landing an offer, there is a difference.  

Being more aggressive is actively reaching out to people at funds you're interested in and chatting with people there to get put on the list for their HH to reach out to. If it is a smaller firm they might run a bespoke process and not have a HH, so reaching out to people there becomes even more important. Also means getting the names of HHs at certain search firms that don't normally reach out to DB people and emailing them first.

 

Well I am not sure about actually converting to interviews, thus my initial question. However, in terms of getting outreach from headhunters about firms recruiting and recruiting events, you are getting mostly MM firms and some rare UMM firms. Again not super sure on conversions of that into interviews and/or offers. From friends at REGLL, they get more UMM/MF PE roles but also don't get outreach for some MM/UMM roles. I think the Sponsors/LevFin people simply get more outreach. 
 

My question is really more so past the outreach from headhunter stage. Unsure what is really realistic in terms of landing spots/spots to target. To be perfectly honest, haven't closed anything really outside of non-lead LevFin stuff and that's a super common story amongst all DB analysts. So really worried about actually getting the PE job and being able to leave banking, especially after deciding to take that step a bit later than some others. 

 

FIG has had some decent exits actually. But can't find any solid exits from TMT or HC, best bet in one of those teams is to lateral banks.

 

To be fair, think those groups have all had new hires that have made them stronger than they were 2-3 years ago. Might be bit of an extreme example, but just a few years ago: UBS Tech had really solid exits with couple of UMM names and now group is (based on recent WSO commentary saying group is bad and old WSO commentary saying it's a good group within UBS) pretty weak. Not sure how relevant current league tables are but just wanted to note that TMT and HC at DB have improved a bit compared to historically.

 

Thanks intern. You’re at least 2-4 years late with this comment. Now get back to work

 
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