How is Middle Market not the most desirable spot?

I go to a large state school and we place plenty of people in the MM, with a few smart/lucky people ending up at EB/BB. But from everybody I’ve talked to they thoroughly enjoyed the MM balance and work while the BB folks generally stressed and unhappier?

I guess I just can’t understand why the 10-25% pay increase and additional “prestige” would justify you killing your health and social life.

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Common myth that MM is less stressful. MM entails the same amount and level of work as EB or BB, and can often be more stressful as good MM groups have high volume of deal flow and there's often more tedious, process-oriented work to go around. At the end of the day, wlb and culture is not determined by whether a bank is BB, EB, or MM, but rather is very group-dependent. Any group with good deal flow, whether large-cap or broad market MM sell-sides, will be sweaty. I've split my career between a large EB (Evercore / Lazard) and a MM (Blair/Jeff), and I can assure you my time in the MM was not any more chill.

 

I work at a bullshit MM and I have to respectfully disagree with the post. The workload and stress is the same like a BB / EB, yet less prestige. Sometimes hours can be worse because MMs tend to be volume shops, so you have to work more. In addition, no prestige means way worse exit opps, whether it's lateraling or moving to buy side. MMs also don't get respect in B school application.

I do see where you're coming from though :)

 

Molestias ad dicta quis sint labore eum. Enim unde omnis necessitatibus atque cum ut rem.

Est ut hic occaecati. Earum voluptas vero et velit vero velit. Sed ducimus voluptates eveniet corrupti a consequatur facilis maiores.

Sint quas ut necessitatibus eveniet rem nulla. Sint ipsum omnis similique eum praesentium et. Ut quia delectus iusto deserunt voluptatem ut dolor asperiores. Quia aliquam officiis soluta dolorem error sequi quis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”