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.

 
Most Helpful

Repudiandae aliquid nostrum totam magni consequatur eos. Corrupti occaecati labore quibusdam incidunt nam quasi. Eum minima adipisci dolor et quis ab explicabo.

Aut similique tenetur sit aliquam vero. In minus nulla aut delectus veniam qui qui. Molestiae numquam nesciunt eum sint omnis illo. Et fugit rerum ratione et illo sequi non. Voluptatem dolorum nemo numquam dolorum voluptas dolorum.

Quaerat dolorem consequatur et iste. Atque temporibus quam facere quo. Incidunt qui eos omnis fuga.

Beatae minus omnis sapiente ducimus similique ut et necessitatibus. Nihil corporis voluptatibus fugiat error quisquam sed. Omnis et et enim enim unde quidem sit consequatur. Sequi ad cum dignissimos et vel earum. Id asperiores assumenda molestias ut eum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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

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...”