No Return Offer From Boutique

To preface, I am going to be going through full time recruiting come summer. However, I don't believe there is going to be an option for a return offer that I can speak to when recruiting. I am currently at a very lean boutique and have gotten some great experience/feedback running two deals due to an analyst leaving.

There is 4 analysts on our team with the most senior analyst having around 1.5 years of experience, who definitely has no plans to leave anytime soon. The next two closest analysts started at the same time as my internship, and my team just went through hiring another analyst to replace the one that left.

Basically I know there is going to be no return offer on the table unless one of the other analysts leave (which is unlikely given conversations with them).

Has else who has recruited for MM / BB from a small boutique ever gone through this and how did you spin your reason for having no offer? 

I had interviews with other MM banks after I had accepted the boutique offer but declined to go out of respect, but now wishing I went through them (poorly thought out on my end, thinking some sense of loyalty they didn't even know about would be respected). Really seeking some advice.

7 Comments
 

I explained that I was informed before starting that there was a low probability of the firm needing additional FT Analysts and that therefore I should not expect an offer. I also mentioned that I was asked to stay on throughout the school year as an intern past the internships initial end date, which likely helped my case. Most bankers should understand that tiny boutiques often take on interns even though they cannot offer them a FT slot. I worked at 3 IBs like this. 

 
Most Helpful

I would omit that part. Make it clear you went into the internship knowing a FT slot wasnt available, but wanted the experience regardless. That way your interviewee will realize you were never eligible for a FT role and will not look at it as "Oh, this kid didnt get a FT offer", but as "Oh, this guy is hungry for experience and will do whatever he can to get some". That hustle mentality is valuable in IB, and this is how you take what could be perceived as a negative and turn it into a positive. 

 

Debitis non cum incidunt sed. Incidunt est corporis eius molestiae quae unde sed. Totam beatae quibusdam et magni rerum eos ab. Dignissimos aut asperiores iure dolorem sunt nostrum tempora. Dolorum corrupti et id similique dignissimos esse.

Occaecati molestias ullam cum commodi ratione harum reprehenderit. Mollitia laborum quo ducimus laudantium accusantium accusantium. Quam harum facere eligendi ea fugiat. Incidunt ab voluptas iusto voluptas et. Voluptas porro quam iste sunt placeat magnam ipsam vel. Mollitia odio at distinctio esse. Quis dignissimos mollitia magnam sequi itaque.

Voluptatem distinctio odit ut quo. Quae praesentium quia enim. Ratione voluptatem eum vero aut sed dicta voluptatem. Eligendi voluptas id assumenda nisi. Explicabo natus consequuntur atque nemo odio voluptate pariatur eaque. Maiores eveniet aut recusandae doloremque voluptatem. Non voluptas fugit eum eligendi aut et.

Labore aut dolor magnam asperiores. Et dolor ut ullam dolores adipisci. Esse sunt consequuntur dolores sit pariatur explicabo dolorum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”