Declining quality of resume
I'm currently an analyst at a big bank, and I want to break into PE in a couple of years. I'm wondering whether it's a problem that my resume declines in quality as it progresses, and, if so, how can I mitigate this problem during recruiting?
-2 years ago I was a SA at a top-firm (GS/MS/LAZ) -1 year ago SA at a slightly worse, but still BB firm (LEH/MER) -Then got an internship at a crappy MC (LEK/ATK/Accenture/Katzenbach) -Then the firm that I started FT with became acquired by an even crappier firm (Barclays/BofA)
I realize that most people usually switch firms to move up or upgrade; how bad of a signal is it that I switched each time to a worse firm?
Why don't you just admit that you interned at Lazard, because there is no reason to put Lazard next to GS, MS even though it is a great bank.
Anyway, stop worrying so much by working for Barclays or Bofa. You probably ended up at the bank you did your SA right? Those are still good BB banks and getting into PE will depend on your experience during those 2 years.
Actually, everybody in the industry or at target schools considers Lazard right up there with Goldman, and probably now better than Morgan. I hold this perspective regardless of whether I worked there (and I didn't).
You'll be just fine. If the positions you held were a series of full time positions, you may have a reason to be slightly worried, but these were just summer gigs. People will see a list of very impressive employers on your resume and I predict the response will be favorable.
Besides, PE recruiting is more about the experience you received and deals you've worked on than the name on your resume.
~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker
Absolutely true - you really want to focus on your experiences within these organizations, deal flow, additional responsibilities, managerial roles (such as managing the junior analysts and such) and less on, well technically I work for a crappier bank now because my good bank was acquired...if the "crappier" bank was that bad, it wouldn't have been able to acquire the good bank (yes, I went there - but yes, it's still funny to see BofA struggle to work with Mer, fumbling around with the pieces).
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If you are that concerned for the last transition why don't you put Merrill Lynch (Now BOA-Merrill) or Lehman Brothers (Now Barclays Capital) or some shit like that. Its not as if you switched, your contract got honored. You seem to have a solid track anyway, I wouldn't worry if I were you; the BBs you referred to are desperately redefining themselves and thus in a couple of years you should be better positioned. One is obviously better positioned than the other but still, I would think you have a shot in many places...
Dude doing a two year stint at ML or Lehman is highly favirable, good work and keep it up by working hard in your group
LEK and Katzenbach may not have the brand cachet of McKinsey, but they are still highly respected. I certainly wouldn't group them with Accenture.
Ditto that.
OP - you are OK. Settle down. You are on the right track. People take 30 seconds to glance at a resume. I doubt anyone will notice or care about the trend you are reporting because each firm you have worked for is a great, well known, well respected firm. Just do great work and get in tight with your MD.
i dont feel bad for you i did two front office internships .. one at bb one at buyside. now in back office at small firm for FT (for now...)
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