Ensuring Promotion as Lateral Hire

I’m starting at a new MM IB in a few weeks as a lateral Analyst. I have 2.25 YoE as an Analyst at a comparable shop, a one-year Master of Management from an M7, and 1.5 YoE of asset management prior to my masters. The Managing Partner of the new bank has told me there is a 99.9% chance I will get the bump to Associate at year-end, and potentially earlier. What steps can I take to ensure I am promoted before year-end? Obviously bust my ass and do the best I can do, but other things to keep in mind or things to do right out of the gate would be helpful.

Additional considerations:

  • I have a prior relationship with an Associate, who is up for promotion at year-end, and has mentioned he will advocate for me
  • The bank won a mandate as of this morning, which they have said I will be staffed on immedietly from day one
  • ~30 employees and top-heavy with gaps in the Associate/VP levels
4 Comments
 

Very similar situation as you, especially the part about “99.9% chance of promotion”.

Banks treat laterals as supplemental filler resources. Even if you’re good / better than your peers, you’ll never be seen or treated as one of them.

Not trying to scare you but just something I’ve learned. I’m sure you know by now that banking is highly political and performance matters little beyond checking the box.

 

Best thing to do is get it in writing. Had a similar experience where they put a clause in that stated I would be eligible for promotion at year end, which holds no weight. Ended up pushing back and got a guarantee in writing. Push back on the offer letter and get it in writing. Something along the lines of "subject to satisfactory performance, insert name will be elevated to the title of Associate starting January 1, 2024". You're not asking for anything unreasonable and taking the risk hoping ship / burning your relationships at your old firm.

 
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