GS IBD vs PJT Partners - Which SA Offer to take for 2026?
Hey everyone,
I've found myself in the fortunate position of having to decide between GS and PJT for a 2026 SA role in London. I'd really appreciate some perspectives from people who’ve been through similar decisions.
A bit of context:
- I’m mainly interested in classic IB work, also open to explore RX
- Long term, I’m open to both PE and corporate exits
I know GS is the big brand name, but PJT seems to offer better culture, compensation and a more bearable workload.
Are you brain dead?
in london u sign GS and pray HR doesnt find out who you are for asking this q
GS and don't look back
you are only asking this about PJT because everyone on this forum has been straight up glazing them for about 2 years (most of them Americans - so it doesn't apply to London)
If you never touched this website you would sign GS and not even consider PJT
This is a US centric forum. GS is clearly better than PJT in London unless you want to do rx
This is how I realize how people on this forum are brainwashed.
GS obviously the biggest brand, no matter which exit ratio per promotion or any other made up stats brainroted finance bros are calculating here on a weekly basis, but instead of asking advice to random strangers on the Internet, just ask yourself for once in your lfe : what would I genuinely like to do? Which people where the most likeable during ACs?
You got two great offers so no doubt this kind of thinking is possible for you.
If I don't see you with me at GS this summer, you will need to question your life choices...
In London take GS but in America GS is really not very good anymore.
I got an MS for speaking the truth. GS does not get the best kids bc of all the BS they do in American recruiting. They do super early targeted DEI hiring or they do super late recruiting (b/c they want the “passionate” kids). On the DEI side, GS does get the best minority kids from Harvard type schools (like upper middle class Nigerian-American with doctor / engineer / corporate parents). But then they also get a mixed bag of rich white girls, some of them are good some aren’t. And then they also get a lot of the Nepo kids who are also a mixed bag. So just on that, 30% of the analyst class is going to be ppl who just aren’t as good analysts but might one day be great partners. If you don’t care about being a career banker, there’s no pt working at GS.
The boutiques do DEI stuff too but to a lesser extent. Also the boutiques know how much leverage they get out of Hardo analysts whereas GS makes 1Y Asso work like analysts so there is a bigger pool of people actually doing things.
EMEA - GS is the better option, US - PJT hands down, IMO better regarded in finance circles
You don't say no to GS.
lmao are you Asian? They are the only ones obsessed with "brand recognition".
If you get a GS TMT, then yeah, I can see a point in going there vs a CVP, EVR, PJT. Otherwise not sure it's worth it that much
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