Thoughts on moving from SA ER at a quant firm to a BBs IB team in London? Coming from a strong target in EU with ok grades and boutique experience in IB.
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the honest read: an sa in er at a quant firm is not a pipeline into bb ib, but it does not need to be - your boutique ib experience is the actual anchor. london is more flexible than nyc on this: off-cycle internships are the standard side door into bb teams, and with a target school plus real deal experience at a boutique you are a credible off-cycle candidate.
frame the story as wanting deal execution rather than research, not as leaving the quant firm. the er-to-ib question in interviews is really "why did you not do ib in the first place" - the boutique answers that for you.
two practical notes: ok grades matter less once you have deal experience, but have the number ready and do not hide it. and if you can extend the boutique into more deal reps before recruiting, that beats another er stint.
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