“My mentoring session with Andre was extremely valuable and gave me the clarity and direction I needed at an important stage of my application journey. He was kind, approachable, and generous with his time, creating an atmosphere in which I felt comfortable sharing my experiences, asking questions, and discussing my doubts openly.
One of the most helpful aspects of our conversation was his guidance on how to organize and communicate my personal story. Andre helped me understand how to connect different experiences into a coherent narrative, identify the elements that matter most, and explain their significance more clearly. His perspective was fundamental in helping me see how to present my background with greater confidence, purpose, and authenticity.
I particularly appreciated his advice on what to avoid. He helped me recognize that including every detail does not necessarily make a story stronger, and that being selective can make a message much more effective. Our discussion gave me a clearer understanding of how to avoid unnecessary repetition, keep my narrative focused, and ensure that each part contributes something meaningful to the overall application.
Andre also provided valuable guidance on how to organize the application process itself. He helped me think more clearly about priorities, how to approach the different components, and how to make the work feel more manageable. Having a clearer structure has made a difference to my mindset: instead of seeing the applications as one overwhelming task, I now feel better equipped to approach them through specific, achievable steps.
Another important takeaway was his advice on how to use the coming days effectively. Our conversation helped me understand where to focus my energy, which tasks deserve immediate attention, and how to establish a realistic plan. I left the session with a stronger sense of direction and a better understanding of how to balance thoughtful preparation with consistent progress.
What made the experience positive was the combination of practical guidance and encouragement. Andre offered suggestions in a considerate and constructive way, helping me reflect on my choices while also making me feel supported. His kindness made it easier to engage honestly with the process and to see areas for improvement as opportunities to strengthen my applications.
Overall, this session was fundamental in helping me understand both what I want to communicate and how to move forward. I now have a clearer approach to telling my story, organizing my applications, avoiding common mistakes, and planning the next few days with intention.
I am very grateful for Andre’s support and for the care he brought to our conversation. His advice gave me useful tools, renewed confidence, and a more focused approach to the work ahead. I would highly recommend a session with him to anyone seeking thoughtful guidance, practical direction, and a supportive space to develop their application narrative. The session helped me turn uncertainty into a clearer plan, and I feel much more prepared to make the most of the time ahead and present my experiences in a meaningful and convincing way.”
I would be interested to know this one too, if anyone has any insight.
Greenhill > Evercore > Lazard ...if you can't get into a BB in the first place. Lazard is a sweat shop. Evercore hired too many personnel this year and will have to make cuts (everyone knows it). Greenhill is much more lean. PM me.
TPH and Simmons pay significantly above street and both have good dealflow and exit ops Lazard is growing and is not restricted to energy (airlines, some healthcare, southwest M&A), placement/dealflow is decent (i know of one analyst going to lime rock)
Not to thread-jack, but where do most of these banks do their recruiting? What percentage do you think come from UT/Rice as opposed to other schools in the state (SMU/TCU/A&M)?
This is pretty spot on. Bulge Brackets have an advantage in energy banking because they can throw around their balance sheet to get deals done. In a capital intensive industry like energy, this can really help bring in business.
Coming from my buddy who summered at Lazard in Houston, its a very formal/stiff environment (ex. Business formal everyday...). Some people are into that (my friend is) so it really depends on personal preference. He also really liked the fact that his office isn't exclusively energy focused.
Evercore is much more laid back and has more of a work hard/play hard attitude. I really enjoyed interviewing with them. They came on strong when they first broke into the industry, but since the Kinder Morgan/ El Paso deal they haven't had as much success. I agree that layoffs are probably in the cards.
I don't have much experience with the guys at Greenhill.
TPH and Simmons are both great shops that place well. If you're into OFS, Simmons is considered one of the top shops. The problem with both of these shops is that your exit opps will be completely restricted to Oil/Gas. This is less so the case at the bigger, brand-name banks.
Texas Outlaw-
At the top shops you will find UTexas and Rice dominate, but there is also a good mix of A&M, SMU and TCU. Each shop tends to have "their" non-target school that they recruit from. (ex. Barclays takes a disproportionate amount of A&M guys).
You will also find lots of Ivy grads and other top 25 grads (Vanderbilt, USC, Notre Dame, UVA etc.) who usually have a connection to Texas or the energy industry.
Check your newswires today. EVR advised MMR on the FCX buyout of PXP & MMR. They have been crushing it the past 1-2 years down here. What was the last blockbuster deal you saw Greenhill advising on? All you have to do is look at the league tables.
Does this pertain only to undergrads or in general (incl. MSc Finance)?
Not to hijack this thread, but.. any shops in Houston that recruit from Texas Tech?
I would definitely take a TPH or Simmons over the other boutiques...and definitely take EVR over Greenhill...Laz a somewhat distant third unless you are an analyst just looking for a name (to carry you out of Houston...bc it doesnt carry weight in town). GHL has hardly done a thing since opening that office.
Whomever told you lazard was business formal was lying or the victim of an amazing practical joke. Probably the only bank in Houston that wears jeans on Friday.
I'm not sure Simmons pays over street either...they definitely do not in base pay. Have never hear their bonus nums to be anything out of the ordinary either but upside is you're getting all cash of course. Though the analyst level that isn't a concern anywhere.
Could be a practical joke, but it would be a long one. He wore a suit every day of his SA stint there. He could be the type that would wear a suit by choice though... something I will never understand.
Not understanding the Laz hate, Possum. If you're looking for an analyst spot with an eye on PE, no one else in Houston has placed better over the past 2 years (saying nothing of deal flow or culture but Friday is casual).
TPH and Simmons are solid, both place a GOOD analyst or two each year (but have heard that a lot of analysts choose to stay, not sure whether this is good or bad) and have heard good things about culture (sex scandals?) and pay.
Evercore is wrecking since they hired the former head of Scotia (Finnie) and Laz took his next-in-command earlier this year. Have interviewed with Evercore guys and seem to be a good bunch.
moelis and rothschild are in houston as well i believe, with oil/gas focused bankers.
rothschild office is based in DC for oil/gas and metals
What about Greenhill Houston compared to some of the lower bulge brackets (Wells, UBS) and to Jefferies?
You can PM me. If you are interested in exit opps don't discount Greenhill. 1 to Quantum, 1 to Denham, current 2nd year going to First Reserve next summer. They hire 1 analyst per year (usually their SA).
Lazard has had good placement lately, especially at Lime Rock and 1 going to EnCap next summer I believe. But they haven't placed better than Barclays or CS.
Moelis lost Brady Parrish to Apache so who knows what is going on in that office. Rothschild is looking for analysts.
As far as Tech, none of the banks recruit there. Best bet is to reach out to boutiques.
Hey Eric, I am particularly interested in Evercore Houston and I am wondering if I could pm you to consult you about them?
How do you know Rothschild is looking for analysts? It says online their "resume drop" closed in early september....
Headhunters
Anyone know about Greenhill in LA?
Rothschild is opening an office in Houston and are in the process of looking for juniors. I would also reiterate my opinion of NOT JOINING LAZARD. They had one or two summer associates in 2011 that did not take offers specifically because of one guy (Director/VP level) that was at Lazard and was a complete taskmaster. Do not go to Lazard unless you want the brand name...it will do nothing for you for oil and gas PE/corp dev. Evercore is a much better name in the energy space. Like others have said, Barclays and CS place very well, with Barclays actually having a very decent culture, unlike the nerds at CS. Citi is rapidly moving into that top tier as well, although we're all waiting for layoffs in that group, considering the fact that it is pretty massive.
@arguewithatree. I would easily go with Wells, Jeffs or UBS over Greenhill. Greenhill hasn't done sh*t in Houston, Wells is a VERY solid name in the midstream space, Jeffs is great in E&P as well as midstream and UBS is probably a top 3-5 player in midstream alone, considering they poached the best that Barclays had to offer in that space.
Not sure how much proclamation you should be doing about what banks to go to for PE opps as a FIRST YEAR ANALYST, three months into the job.
I'll repeat what I said on the other Houston post, all 5 from Lazard's last two classes placed, 4 in oil & gas PE, the other at a generalist shop. What else can you want re: exit opps?
^Great post.
Anyone have any info on Greenhill in LA? I know they just opened there in 2009, but have you guys heard of anyone interning there?
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Is it worth it to interview at Greenhill if they only accept 1 SA over a firm like RBC?
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Assuming you have to forgo interviews at firms like RBC/UBS/etc would you take a greenhill first round interview? Also why would they be recruiting if they're only taking one guy through connections?
^ Would like to know that as well.
OGBanker, if you have 12 first round interviews in January through OCR, would you still need strong connections to the banks to actually get SA offers? How big a role does the actual interview play?
Anyone saying GHL over EVR must be far more interested in going to the gym at lunch (by decree) than working on anything live.
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