Experienced hires in IB 1.5-2 yrs out of grad: An1 or An2?

Currently at a well-known Portfolio Valuation shop (think HL, Kroll, Lincoln), and having now been on the job for just over 18 months now, I've also started to gear up and heavily network for IB roles.

Is it the norm to hire into an AN1 position until 2 years or so on the job? If not, any particular thresholds to be aware of for when I'd be set to recruit for AN2?

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Reality is you should expect to start from scratch as a fresh Analyst 1 no matter how long you spend in this role (unless you hit 5-7 years then maybe as a fresh Associate 1). Especially in this market, banks have no reason to give someone with 0 IB or M&A execution experience “extra credit”. There’s hundreds of IB analysts on the market with transaction experience that can come in as analysts and hit the ground running. 

Don’t be discouraged; even if you had the analyst 2 title you would be way behind your peers and at high risk of layoff / firing / pushed out via no promotion. Instead as an analyst 1 you’ll have a leg up on your peers. With this in mind, it best you move over to IB immediately you can start accumulating relevant experience. You got this.

 

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