Worked for two years and haven't closed a single deal.
I recently did a case study on my own that a different analyst on our team closed. I know all the details of the deal and put together a memo using LBO modeling, debt comps, and industry research on my own.
Been lateral recruiting and haven't gotten any traction (due to my lack of deal experience). Is there any downside to listing that closed deal on my resume?
| +200 | UBS Accused of Favoring H-1B Workers While Cutting U.S.-Born Employees | 50 | 9h |
| +101 | IB Energy Drink Tier List / Ranking | 70 | 1h |
| +88 | PJT M&A Group Selection 2026 | 13 | 1d |
| +73 | ONLY THESE BANKS OR YOU STRUCK OUT | 28 | 9h |
| +34 | Feedback for internship first desk at IBD BB - personal fit, "don't be too confident" | 23 | 2d |
| +33 | Firm Thinks I'm Lying About Offer | 12 | 8m |
| +28 | Does BofA still pay its associates rat pellets? | 14 | 1d |
| +26 | Stay at Weak Dealflow Team or Lateral? | 6 | 11m |
| +19 | Updated JPM Group Rankings | 31 | 11h |
| +19 | VP Deal Origination Credit | 2 | 1d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some key points to consider:
Honesty and Integrity:
Highlighting Relevant Experience:
Resume Tips:
Interview Preparation:
Networking and Applications:
By focusing on your actual contributions and the skills you've developed, you can present a strong case to potential employers without misrepresenting your experience.
Sources: Deal experience on resume?, Is it possible to Lateral as an analyst with no closed deals, Best Practices for Finding Lateral Opportunities, Laid off from a LMM IB, how to proceed forward?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/breaking-into-private-equity-from-banking?customgpt=1
Bruh deal teams are public info
Where you find them?
Downside is being a massive loser
Sounds like you are at UBS
Not sure why you’d ever want to put yourself in that position
If I did this, I’d be constantly worried somebody finds out that something on my resume is fake, and then that whole thing unravels and they start questioning what else is fake on my resume
Also most funds do quite a lot of both formal and informal background checks. Say you put down a deal you didn’t do but the interviewer knows the MD who did the deal. You don’t think they’d just pick up the phone and call the MD and ask what it was like working with you? If the answer from the other side instead of a resounding “he/she is fantastic” is a “never heard of him/her, I didn’t work with that person”, you’re probably going to be rejected before that phone call ends
agree with the premise but i’m pretty sure the MDs on my floor don’t know the name of half the associates…
.
Would advise against although I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first to be dishonest about deal exp. There’s always folks who did jack shit on the deal who got credit.
If you have any projects that are strategic alternatives style you can dress up these with made up project names and at least know that you actually worked on it
OP, it’s not cheating if you don’t get caught.
Life isn’t fair which is why I empathize with you, especially when I observe female A&As making guest appearances on key files. In short being on every deal team without much contribution or responsibility. This is intentional from MDs to pad the credentials of their DEI minions and enable their promotions.
Aut repudiandae eligendi numquam ducimus hic. Sapiente mollitia doloribus expedita molestiae. Inventore distinctio voluptatem beatae ut numquam. Sint dignissimos omnis fugit earum. Eos alias corporis non dolore nesciunt rerum. Magnam recusandae odit commodi. Eveniet aliquam nostrum voluptate libero aut qui.
Omnis cumque eligendi non voluptas est sed. Voluptas vero quod laborum. Ducimus officiis aperiam debitis explicabo.
Aliquam optio unde ullam culpa. Ut a omnis dicta voluptate. Qui optio magni ipsum voluptas et nobis ipsum deleniti. Vel iure possimus ea autem. Unde vel possimus cupiditate iure non et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...