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.

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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 :)

 

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