How Is Recruiting for Chicago IB from HYP?
Current first-year at HYP and would like to recruit extensively for Chicago IB in the upcoming recruiting cycle. I’m not from the Midwestern US but have some family ties to the Chicago area and have been numerous times.
The reasons I have for recruiting for Chicago are several, but it mostly comes down to a superior QOL and wealth-creation opportunity in my analyst years and potentially associate years. I also don’t care about the “prestige” of the bank’s brand name and don’t really care about breaking into MF PE—I’d be very happy with a top MM PE position.
So how is recruiting for Chicago IB coming from my position? Any advice on networking, technical preparations, or general recruiting? I have been doing a LMM PE internship this semester and for the summer I will probably do a remote business development internship while living abroad.
Recruiting for Chicago IB from HYP can be a strong move, especially given your family ties and focus on quality of life and middle-market private equity (MM PE) aspirations. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know:
1. Recruiting Landscape for Chicago IB
2. Your Position as an HYP Student
3. Networking Tips
4. Technical Preparation
5. General Recruiting Advice
By combining your HYP background, networking efforts, and technical preparation, you’ll position yourself well for Chicago IB recruiting. Good luck!
Sources: How is UChicago IB recruiting?, 2018 Full-Time IB Recruiting Timeline Megathread Page, Chicago SA Recruiting - 2021, IB SA Recruiting is a Joke Now
Bumping
Chicago offices are super small. Much smaller than you'd think (like 2 SA per summer, at some places). You'll need to network (cold applying/minimal coffee chats will likely not get you R1s despite coming from HYP) because most Chicago offices don't have recruiting teams for HYP, but they will have teams for UChicago, Notre Dame, Michigan, Indiana etc. Tbh it'll be easier to get R1 interviews with banks in NYC because those offices will have recruiting teams for HYP, and more alumni will be in NYC offices compared to Chicago offices and that makes networking easier. In your cold emails to Chicago bankers definitely mention your ties to Chicago and that you're specifically interested in the bank's Chicago office. But you'll face an uphill battle because kids in the IBW at Indiana benefit from alumni who are obliged to take networking calls/give referrals to IBW kids, and Michigan alumni that ride for their alma mater love to help out kids from Ross. And these schools have a heavy alumni presence in Chicago. That's not to say you can't get an offer for Chicago, but understand that---despite attending HYP---you're at somewhat of a structural disadvantage, because your school doesn't have a pipeline/recruiting infrastructure to funnel kids into Chicago offices. FWIW, I would recruit for NYC where you'll likely find the most success, take the best offer you can get (ideally EB/BB) and then either recruit for FT positions in Chicago, or start looking to lateral to Chicago as soon as you hit the desk. A lot of people try to lateral out of Chicago into NYC---not the other way around, which should make things easier for you. Also working in NYC will honestly give you more credibility because investment banking in NYC is more intense than in Chicago. With all of that said, you seem to really want Chicago, so you should probably just recruit for both NYC and Chicago.
Thanks for your reply. I’ll probably recruit for both then but honestly do feel that I’m a bit behind in the process. Haven’t studied technicals at all yet nor have I networked much yet.
Of course. I would honestly email people at your school who just landed SA ‘27 offers, and ask to chat for 10-15 mins at a cafe on campus/call on the phone. After some small talk, say “well thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. If it’s okay with you I’d love to tell you about myself, it would be great to hear about your background, and then I have some questions prepared—-if that’s okay with you.” People who just went through recruiting at your specific school will have the most relevant advice because there are subtle differences between SA recruiting at different schools. Also do this with people who returning FT; if you can establish a relationship/rapport all the better. These guys (and girls) will be analysts while you’re recruiting so they’ll be more likely to respond to your email once they’ve hit the desk if they remember you. These chats will also help prep you for actual networking calls with bankers which you should probably start ~2 or 3 weeks after spring semester finals (you should give yourself some time to relax after the school year). At the end of these calls ask “is there anything I can do to support my candidacy for summer analyst recruiting?” or “Is there anyone else you think it would be helpful to speak with?” Keep a spread sheet to track your networking outreach and coffee chats (keep notes about what people have said so you can say “I was speaking with so-and-so who works in X group in the Y office and s/he said this, which is why I’m interested in this bank.” This is a great way to answer why this bank questions during interviews. Ask “what drew you to [insert bank name] to get good details for why this bank questions. As for technical studying, just start. The earlier the better. The 400 question guide starts with accounting which, in my opinion, is extremely unintuitive if you’ve never taken an accounting class. So maybe take an online accounting course on like Khan academy/watch a bunch of YouTube videos about accounting, and then start reading through the guide/taking notes, and whenever a question/answer doesn’t make sense put it through ChatGPT to get a detailed explanation—I’d recommend using the voice feature to ask follow up questions because I personally encode info better while speaking out loud. But know what works best for you. Treat the guide like a textbook for a biology class where you need to pretty much memorize (like WACC formulas/hardy Weinberg equation) while understanding things/processes conceptually (how changes in random line items flow through the 3 statements/Krebs cycle). Make sure to keep up with the markets a bit because you’ll get “market questions” which don’t show up in the guide. I’d listen to the CNBC’s half time report (on 2x speed if you’re pressed for time) daily; it’s on the podcasts app. During interviews whenever I was asked about the market/the Fed I would literally parrot whatever I heard Scott wapner say and that seemed to do the trick haha
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