How transferable are Credit Research Skills to IBD?

So after spending two years as as commercial credit analyst at a small regional bank I was hired as an Analyst for the oil and gas sector for one of the big three credit rating agencies. Just out of curiosity I started surfing linked-in today after my first day at the office and I've seen quite a few former employees working as associates at BB banks beyond the lev fin department so in essence it is quite possible to make the transition to IBD from CRA Analyst positions. My current plan would be to either: A) stay two years pass the first two levels of CFA and aim to apply to a good business school and then hopefully land myself a BB Associate Role or B) Stay for a year and as soon as May comes around try to network and market myself for an IBD Analyst postion don't get me wrong I got a nice Salary bump in this new gig, but I'm not trying to be a credit person during my entire professional career. Advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated it.

2 Comments
 
Best Response

So I think that a move like the one you're suggesting is certainly doable, however, but I think you're likely missing a piece. I would think it would be rare for a BB to hire an Associate from a CRA without having first gone to business school. Not because the experience isn't highly valuable, but because it's not directly transferable and that's not how BB's recruit their associates.

A BB is likely going to hire incoming Associates from one of three pools; business school, analyst promotes, and laterals from other banks. I would think that after working at a CRA, you would have a strong case for a good business school and marketable experience to leverage during the recruiting season. My advice would be that your most likely path to BB IBD is to get that experience, go to a top 10 program, and recruit for Associate roles from there. I understand that is the more time consuming and expensive option, but I also believe it to be the most realistic.

Someone else may have separate thoughts there. I'm speaking form the perspective of analyst at a BB to associate at MM PE.

 

Provident aut laboriosam totam laborum. Consequatur sed molestiae aspernatur maxime esse qui. Dolorem enim error et laudantium.

Quos et molestiae doloremque quidem optio saepe et placeat. Totam velit id est velit. Commodi perspiciatis laborum aut. Praesentium est cum officia excepturi alias expedita. Expedita corrupti voluptatum possimus nulla.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”