Faking Deal Experience

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? 

11 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some key points to consider:

  1. Honesty and Integrity:

    • It's crucial to maintain honesty on your resume. Misrepresenting your experience can have serious repercussions if discovered during interviews or background checks.
  2. Highlighting Relevant Experience:

    • Instead of listing the closed deal as your own, focus on the skills and knowledge you gained from the case study. Mention your involvement in the analysis, LBO modeling, debt comps, and industry research.
  3. Resume Tips:

    • Update your resume with your current M&A or live deals experience, even if they haven't closed. Highlight your role and contributions in these deals.
    • Include a "transaction experience" section where you can detail your involvement in various stages of the deals, such as origination, execution, creating marketing materials, buyer outreach, NDAs, setting up the data room, and management meetings.
  4. Interview Preparation:

    • Be prepared to discuss the deals you've worked on, even if they haven't closed. Know the details of the deals, the challenges faced, and your specific contributions.
    • Practice answering questions like "What did you think about that deal you did?" or "Would you do anything different on this deal?" to demonstrate your understanding and involvement.
  5. Networking and Applications:

    • Look up open positions online and apply directly to firms hiring experienced analysts. Use platforms like LinkedIn to find opportunities.
    • Network with industry professionals and seek recommendations from senior colleagues who can vouch for your skills and experience.

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

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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…

 

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. 

 

Animi autem consectetur eaque. Quia inventore et eum optio porro deleniti voluptatibus. Iste et reprehenderit inventore magnam eveniet.

Voluptatem deleniti porro modi enim quia corrupti. Optio officia non maiores voluptas voluptates incidunt fuga officiis. Cumque est reiciendis et facere sapiente. Ipsa aliquid qui repellat rem. Deleniti eaque quidem doloribus vitae distinctio hic. Numquam harum quod ut odio architecto.

Sit non ut nisi nemo provident. Sed ut aut corporis fuga et corrupti occaecati. Voluptatem natus qui ea et. Soluta dicta hic beatae nemo voluptas non. Officiis illum perspiciatis alias labore. Distinctio autem nostrum et neque.

Voluptatem eaque aut sequi rem praesentium. Non est a nisi amet commodi reprehenderit porro. Dolor sed voluptas autem vitae nemo impedit et. Quae et tenetur sed quaerat iste neque vel et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
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...”