No Return Offer; No Offers

I ended up not getting a return offer for my summer IB analyst stint at a lower tier bulge bracket. I have references and everything, as the position ended up being cut due to conditions in the specific group I am in. That being said, I go to a non-target in the South and have a 3.5 in a quant major.

All the big banks in the area are either not interested or filled their spots with SAs. Additionally, I'm having trouble in recruiting with lower tier IBs (no replies to numerous cold emails, no alumni base, etc.). I had given up IB entirely and started gunning for ER, until I realized ER networking was a crapshoot as well, as nobody was hiring for full-time.

I expect to get a consulting interview for a 2nd tier place and submitted applications for corporate banking. What are some suggestions on other full-time positions I should be looking at? Worth going for completely no-name-middle-of-nowhere-boutique IBs vs corporate banking at a good name? Also looking into Masters program- I'll be in debt but may be worth in the long haul. What are the best MSF programs to break into ER?

2 Comments
 

Yea the IB landscape isn't looking pretty if you don't receive a return offer due to the fact that you're now competing against Big 4 and tech corp dev analysts gunning for first year analyst roles at even the lowliest IBs. My younger brother ran into the same problem.. he had like 10+ final rounds with boutiques and MMs but they ended up giving offers to those with 2+ exp in random finance roles like credit analysis, big 4, corp dev etc

What concert costs 45 cents? 50 Cent feat. Nickelback.
 

Aliquid doloremque eaque dolorem occaecati maiores. Dolor omnis quae quibusdam voluptas. Quos aliquid optio necessitatibus omnis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”