A little back story: I’m currently in public accounting and looking to jump ship after busy season. My goal is to get into imvestment banking.
I’ve interviewed with a local firm that wants to bring me on. However, there is a MM firm in my area that I’ve reached out to do some networking with a couple folks there.
My question is this: do I accept an offer from a local firm to get into investment banking or do I hold out and see if I can get in with the MM firm when hiring starts again?
| +149 | Restructuring: Anti-climactic Experience | 39 | 1h |
| +111 | IB Net Worth / Savings Check | 51 | 23h |
| +107 | Hot take: I’d rather be at Desjardins than UBS for investment banking in 2026 | 16 | 4h |
| +100 | Woman who emptied Knicks trashcan on street then stole it was DEI exec, worked at JPMorgan Chase | 25 | 21h |
| +79 | Stop sleeping on UBS - it’s pretty good | 28 | 2d |
| +56 | 2026 VAULT PRESTIGE RANKINGS | 30 | 20h |
| +39 | AI + Financial Modelling | 12 | 2d |
| +34 | Hardest interview experiences? | 20 | 17h |
| +28 | Summer before college | 21 | 3h |
| +26 | Current State of UBS in North America | 8 | 3d |
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.
Once you're in, you're in. If it were me, I'd take the local firm if it's a sure thing. You can always lateral MM later and you might only be there for two years anyway. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Besides, who wants to stay in Audit?
go for it, an MM shouldn't be too hard to lateral to either way. with some great experience you might even be able to shoot higher than an MM if going to a BB is your goal.
I appreciate the response. Thanks.
no problem, what industry/city is this?
The MM firm is energy (E&P) focused and the local firm is a more generalist shop with a concentration in manufacturing. Both located in St. Louis.
FYI you are supposed to jump, or rather burn the ship before busy season - not after. Congrats on the offer
Well you tell yourself when November and December rolls around that it can’t possibly be as bad as last year...and then your first client is recognizing revenue completely wrong.
As someone who is in the process of lateraling, yeah I would say take the offer and then look to lateral in the future. Lateral interviews are much easier and laid back, and they (typically) won't really grill you on shit because they assume you already know your stuff since you're already in banking
Placeat ut ratione omnis porro aut debitis. Vel laboriosam velit illo magnam reiciendis consequatur. Nisi aliquid sapiente ad voluptatum.
Nobis quo qui voluptatem tempora repellat. Ullam necessitatibus facere eligendi consequatur sunt repellendus hic. Dolorum neque sit quo voluptates rerum veritatis sunt.
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...