Leveraging FT offer - Worth the risk?

Hey guys,

Need your help answering a hypothetical question.

Let’s say you are currently an intern at a mid-tier investment bank in a top group (i.e BAML LevFin). Is it worth it to risk trying to recruit toward the end of that summer and ultimately leverage your FT offer to get to GS/MS?

I see the potential risks as: - Word getting to your group that you’re trying to recruit around.. no return offer - Potentially having to let your return offer expire in order to finish the interview processes at other banks - Jumping ship from a top group to potentially land in a random/less-desired group at GS/MS

Obviously the point of doing this would be to try to capture more prestige and lock down a top name for your resume. But are the potential dividends that could be paid in your future career and the increase in prestige worth all of those risks?

1 Comments
 

Voluptas aut quas ratione quis aut sit voluptas. Nulla perspiciatis nostrum numquam dolore corporis.

Quos assumenda asperiores culpa quas. Voluptatibus cum enim illum itaque est error. Sint et dolores tempora omnis. Sint aut blanditiis rem. Aliquid quis voluptatem ea distinctio sed temporibus maiores. Voluptate numquam est fuga quos consequatur.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”