Hey all! Quick question - recently received an offer to do IB at a bulge bracket bank in a tier 2 city. This offer is still waiting on final approval though - it's only been a few days but wondering if anyone has any insight over what this typically entails? Just a bit paranoid lol - thanks!
| +161 | As Lehman people reconvene at UBS, Barclays needs to hire (2023) | 23 | 1d |
| +149 | Worlds Worst MDs Competition (2026 Edition) | 20 | 12h |
| +136 | Is pay at BofA really that bad? | 65 | 7h |
| +92 | Day at Macquarie | 12 | 2d |
| +91 | Lindsay Clancy - Thoughts from A2 | 21 | 6h |
| +76 | Who Killed Wall Street | 28 | 34m |
| +51 | How bad did I mess up | 10 | 2d |
| +38 | EB (EVR/CVP/LAZ) vs MBB (Bain/BCG) | 15 | 1h |
| +35 | Misrepresented Houston IB | 14 | 3d |
| +29 | No BB RO 2026 | 10 | 4d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, "pending approvals" typically means that your offer is going through the internal approval process at the bank. This can involve several steps, such as:
It's normal for this process to take a few days or even weeks, depending on the bank's internal procedures. If it's a bulge bracket bank, the process might involve multiple layers of approval, especially for lateral hires. While it’s natural to feel anxious, delays are often procedural rather than indicative of any issues. If it stretches beyond a reasonable timeframe, you can politely follow up with your recruiter or HR contact for an update.
Sources: Official Investment Banking Rankings: Boutique and Bulge Bracket Prestige, Q&A: 2nd Year IB Analyst at a Bulge Bracket, Official Investment Banking Rankings: Boutique and Bulge Bracket Prestige, Best Investment Banks, Lateraling Guide for Investment Banking
Normally it’s HR headcount and final approval
Quos labore neque sed reprehenderit voluptatem. Modi dolor neque quidem aut necessitatibus tempore fugit. Qui et dolorem totam.
Quos est accusamus iste molestiae architecto. Voluptate qui et cum. Iure cum ipsa praesentium dignissimos ipsam deleniti. Nostrum quia laboriosam fuga sunt id nisi in. Soluta eum quis itaque soluta ab deleniti. Eius perspiciatis nam qui et praesentium ipsam.
Dolor tempora sint quis quisquam. Vel neque a magni praesentium voluptas rem. Eligendi quibusdam officia ducimus omnis.
Est dolores culpa dolorum aut aut asperiores non. Debitis eos porro magni aut ipsum laborum necessitatibus. Autem beatae quibusdam perferendis magnam.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...