For those with 1-6 years of work experience looking to lateral to IBD...

It is possible in this market, have seen it more and more.

If you have 4-6 years of work experience, unless you were doing corp dev somewhere BIG with 3-5 closed deals AND you can talk about those deals (for whatever reason, its obvious when folks try and talk about a deal they only described in a random PPT once, despite how much they "know" about the quantitative aspects).

You will enter as an analyst, Have seen guys with 4-5 transaction services experience interview, and not get, first year analyst positions. its ok if you are a little older in this environment.

If you have 1-3 years of experience, you will come on as a 1st year analyst. Again, if you were in corp dev, EVEN 3 YEARS with meaningful closed deal experience, you would come in as an A2 - there is no point in hiring someone just for a year (even if you want to stay A2A, banks aren't dumb, they understand people use the "A2A" as a fallback.

Interview tips: Do not say "I'm willing to take a step back." You are not in the industry, and your current role, not better, not worse, is just different. So don't use an analogy.

Another interview tip: For long-term career, its better to get hired at a lower level and get promoted. Most bulge brackets, unless desperate, require A2A or A2VP promote for LATERAL HIRES. So, its better to go in as an A3 analyst, get promoted to associate, and go from there, then just try and go as an associate.

You will be surpirsed at how many folks make it to VP by jumping yet don't know a deal inside and out.

Also, don't network without having questions that actually show you are interested.

(.) (.)