PJT Partners London Shambles

Heard from a friend that PJT partners isn’t the mythical utopia it had previously been described as. Heard they once paid analysts a 70K bonus, but recently that bonus has been reduced significantly(>50%), seniors are fed up with their analysts leaving to the buyside and have stopped vouching for them and the hours have become "unmanageable". Also 9/10 of the students on their spring week program converted into a summer, leaving only 3 spaces for summer analyst this year, apparently this caused a massive feud at senior level, as the culture will know be changing from MSC EU students with 2/3 internships to younger brits with much less technical knowledge. Thanks for the memories PJT, but its time to step down as londons number 1 EB.

 

Seniors cut bonuses by half and work their juniors at a relatively insane level (would make Moelis blush), juniors consequently leave to buyside. The seniors couldn't anticipate less pay + more work would result in juniors leaving? No one considered PJT as the #1 boutique in London, their London office wasn't even profitable in 2018/2016.

 

Myself and others in my immediate circle probably would’ve taken PJT over any bank bar GS/MS last year. In terms of desirability PJT was probably the top EB in London. I’m bloody glad I didn’t end up there now though.

 
Controversial

Move from Msc EU students to Brits will help with retention and they are probably more well rounded employees who haven’t just focused solely on getting into Banking from the age of 14

 

Brits won’t be good enough? The only reason Europeans fare slightly better is because they’re all just shy of 30 when buy side recruitment comes around, whilst all us brits are still in our early 20s. Yes a European language is helpful, but if English is your only language it just makes the process slightly harder. Top analysts place in to the buy side regardless of their language capabilities.

 

Can confirm they converted most of their spring cohort and had 3 spots for summer IBD. Was rejected even though I have 2 internships but they've given an offer to some posh kid who went to eton, now durham whos technical skills will be piss poor. But hey, he did pay for 100k college education, so he is qualified

 

These elite boutiques are obsessed with culture/fit. They would much prefer a polished Durham student over a super nerdy Asian kid from LSE.

 

Losing out to some posh kid who's been coached to success his whole life and had every advantage in the book since birth, sure I am. The firm and many other EBs are terribly biased. Their culture and recruitment practices make it difficult for peope from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to get in.

How do you think he got 3 EB springs and all that jazz. He studies some lite subject too. Thats pure privilege

 

Overall, the standing of US EBs in London has been overhyped forever now. PJT, Moelis and Centerview have virtually no M&A deal flow (at least not justifying 10-15 Analyst class sizes). PWP is totally niche and has to cross-staff because they only have Industrials deals. Evercore might be a Laz/RS in 5-7 years but atm still way below the good BBs.

There is always a summer breakfast by KEA for SAs (KKR, WP, SLP) and I think for 2/3 years running now, they didn't invite a single EB kid (not sure about RS and Laz even). Moral of the story, go to a BB unless you like HC/C&R (RS/Laz).

 

Bye Hitler. Can already tell you were born with the silver spoon up your ass

 
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OMG somebody rejected by PJT completely lost his shit.

  • Entire 2018 Analyst class is still there, voluntarily (apart from 1 guy who went to PJT NYC office) - which speaks for itself, especially given that juniors are on summer bonus cycle (still at significant premium to BB)
  • 4 spring interns made it to the summer class of 15+. Last year was the first time they ran the spring programme, so these people haven't even started as summers yet, hard to imagine how they could have pissed off any seniors
  • you can always ask PJT guys in person on Friday early evening in the nearest pub about the "unmanageable hours"

Next time you decide to go on a hate rant, check your sources

 

PJT partners only offers a single spring week of 10 people, so I’m not entirely sure where your getting 15+ from. Heard this year they are considering not converting any spring weekers at all. Also if they converted only 4, why would they only be looking for 3 SAS considering their average intern class is between 10-13.

 

you can always ask PJT guys in person on Friday early evening in the nearest pub about the "unmanageable hours"

  • addendum: Or at Tuesday football
 

I can also confirm they definitely did not covert the majority of those on the Spring Week. Original poster is clearly somebody pissed off after a rejection.

Given their competitiveness / small analyst class its easy to gain traction dissing a firm like PJT as most of the people reading WSO will have been rejected by them at some point in the last few years.

Non-story.

 

Judging someone based on their LinkedIn profile is extremely biased. Whilst, it is true that the majority of people in Oxbridge, Durham etc. come from privileged background and had a chip on the shoulder at some point, doesn't mean that there aren't kids who fought for whatever scholarship was available so they can get in.

You also won't find any of the personal s*** people go through on LinkedIn. Hardship is not solely whether you attended a target or not, or if you converted that spring week into a summer analyst role. To say who has been through hardship and who not based on xyz credentials is tricky at the very least.

 

Yeah, daddy may have cut their allowance from £500/week to £400. Oh the world is so cruel.

As a rich kid from privilege there is nothing that can happen to you that trumps being poor

 

PJT is defo still seen at #1 London EB in IB target school (Oxbridge/LSE) applicant circles. Just finished the recruiting cycle and most of my friends would have given their first born to work there. Also I've heard from inside that bonus is growing yoy.

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