Is it possible to break into an elite boutique after Internships in Corporate banking + No name M&A boutique?

Hi guys, I am a non - EU student graduating in late 2017 from a target BS in France (think HEC, ESSEC, ESCP). I am a CFA level 3 candidate, having done two internships related to corporate banking/credit analysis roles in top tier corporate banks in France (think BNP, SG, CA, Citi, HSBC, etc.).
Recently, I received an internship offer with a potential employment from a “no name” regional M&A boutique (10-20 deals/y, value ranging from EUR 10m to EUR 75m) in a major continental European city (think Frankfurt, Paris, Milan...). I will probably take the offer. So my questions are: 1. I am aiming at a graduate position in 2018 at a top boutique in London (e.g. Evercore, Moelis&Co, Jefferies, PJT….). Is it viable to land an offer from one of those boutiques considering my background? 2. I will be 27 y/o in 2018. Is it possible to break in as a first -year analyst at 27 y/o?

Any recommendations, thoughts, and perspectives are highly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

4 Comments
 

From my understanding, graduate roles in the elite boutiques you've just mentioned would be a long shot since they hire from their summer intern pool most of the time. So you're chances are tremendously diminished by circumstances outside of your control. I would recommend taking an off-cycle internship after you get some M&A experience (I've heard that they are quite common in Europe) and from there work your way into a full-time employee, if not, its always good to have a 6-month stint on your CV.

 

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