McDonald's --> PE...can it be done?

I'm just wondering if you can make the transition from McDonald's to PE? I've heard it's pretty easy if you get into the right group.

Right now I have offers at McDonald's, Wendy's and one to be a garbageman.

I'm leaning towards Mickey D's, but it's a general offer, I find out my group later. I hear the Nuggets group has the best exit opps but if you get shoved in fries you'll have to stick around an be a career cooker.

What should I do?

24 Comments
 

yeah, I hear getting experience with customers that leverage the hell out of themselves is great for PE. Trying to understand their ability to pay off loads of debt with little cash inflow is perfect for a buyout shop.

 

All of my friends at school are telling me that my only hope to get to Micky D's in the nuggets group is to start at a BB in either M&A or Fin. Sponsors. Fuuuuck. This blows.

"To Know Me Is To Love Me"-Jebus Price

 
Best Response
TheKing

I'm leaning towards Mickey D's, but it's a general offer, I find out my group later. I hear the Nuggets group has the best exit opps but if you get shoved in fries you'll have to stick around an be a career cooker.

lol. This and other comments on here had made my day. Very funny & creative . Hope you people here are not serious & thinking about fast food restaurants.

One of the the best advice someone ever gave me was ... Shoot higher and never sell yourself short. If you don't know what to do with yourself (career wise), just follow your gut and/ or heart and it will show you the way. Do what you like and the money will follow. Above all else work to live, never live to work.

To The King: My best advice is stick around and work your butt off, maybe, just maybe they will promote you to branch manager. (sarcasm) :-)

okay the weekend is coming up. I'm looking forward to that. I'm out of here.

 

I've heard McDonald's, though more prestigious than Wendy's, is a sweatshop. My friend is a first year analyst at In-N-Out and he says every year they place at top-tier PE houses (think KKR, TPG, Bain Capital etc). Though it's only a boutique on the West Coast, culture and amazing exit opps make it worth considering.

Just curious, how did you get an interview w/McD's? School/gpa? Congrats on the offers, btw...you can't go wrong with any of the three.

 

I hate to burst everyone's bubble here, but it is impossible to go from McDonald's to PE. The bottom line is that you won't see the deal flow that most PE require lateral candidates to have.

However, an early career in waste management practically guarantees entry to the best PE shops.

If it's not too late for you, I would not haste to apply to top firms now. Time is of the essence and if you could do so, transfer schools now so that you have the best option to succeed in waste management.

 

I heard McDonald's gets great marks for diversity in the workplace. Can anyone currently there speak to this? Thanks.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Someone said In N' Out burger... the Secret Menu would be so clutch right now, "please look at the time stamp." But yeah, either way I live 2000 miles from an In N' Out burger. Someone in I-Banking needs to make that place public and put a couple in the midwest... I could go for a 4x4 right now. The man who makes In N' Out public and gives the Big Ten student animal fries at 4am in the morning will be the next Sidney Weinberg!

 

of course it can be done, McDonalds Janitor--><abbr title="private equity

">PE Janitor-->Janitor catches the boss having gay sex-->Blackmails him into a job

Disclaimer: The post above has been made by someone who is not currently employed in IBD, and has not had an interview yet...

 

If you want an international experience, but still want to be able to go back to the US after, I suggest that you go for Krispy Kreme in Canada, as they have opened franchises up there.

I wish you the best in your endeavours, as I agree to the fact that such an international experience will make you stand apart and therefore help you for PE.

 

I hear that bonuses are incredibly high in fast food right now and this cannot continue. Can any of you provide your figures this year and what you can expect for next? I am entering the industry next summer and don't want to paid nothing for my hard work!

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I nearly shit myself reading these, but seriously: think about the boutique Pa and Pa joints where food is served in rollerskates. I believe this will help you with the delicate balance of products, service and customers, after all don't BB's & PE's stress this? :)

Hawtness is a state of being, not how you look like... I'm pretty, so pretty...

 

dude, get rid of that picture. it's horrible.

when i clicked on this thread i thought i was going to read about some kind of restructuring of McD's, probably even stripping out their real estate or something. Its good to see that i-monkies is still in rude health.

 

Ut eveniet nihil et velit molestiae. Dolorum eum nobis aliquid facere aliquid quos maxime. Sit delectus consequatur mollitia quos nostrum et nam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 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

October 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

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 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

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...”