Post MBA recruiting difficulty compared to Undergrad?
What are the differences in terms of difficulty compared to the MBA level recruitment compared to undergrad?
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +379 | Evercore Intern Seizure | 56 | 1h |
| +74 | JPM M&A is Gone??? Purely Coverage Banking??? | 33 | 1h |
| +62 | Is DCM actually underrated ? | 26 | 23m |
| +53 | How do I understand vs. just memorizing? | 9 | 2h |
| +48 | Losing my personality in Banking | 9 | 1d |
| +47 | Are all Tech / TMT groups sweaty? | 38 | 1d |
| +42 | Associate & Above IB exits | 16 | 4d |
| +33 | Incoming IB Analyst: Best Ways to Prepare? | 11 | 8h |
| +27 | Which groups are ideal for laterals? | 12 | 1d |
| +24 | Thoughts on PEI Global Partners? | 4 | 2d |
Career Resources
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are the key differences in difficulty between MBA level recruitment and undergraduate recruitment for investment banking:
MBA Level Recruitment:
Undergraduate Recruitment:
Summary:
For more detailed insights, you can refer to the full guide on MBA level recruiting on Wall Street Oasis https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/brief-introduc…</a">here.
Sources: Brief Introduction to Banking Recruiting at the MBA Level, Brief Introduction to Banking Recruiting at the MBA Level, What’s Harder? MBB or EB/BB, How do banks differentiate among MBA students during IBD recruitment at M7/T15 schools?, 2019 MBB Comparison (Interview Process, Locations, Responsibilities, Perks...)
Bumping this; curious.
In normal years: very easy. Now, job not guaranteed at graduation (as in during this period).
Why is it easier than undergrad just curious
Different, but generally easier. If you’re at a ~top 15 MBa program and want to do banking, as long as you have half a brain and aren’t weird… you’ll end up in banking somewhere. Not the case for undergrad where I’ve seen a lot of talented people unable to break in.
Both have gotten slightly easier over the years due to competition across other industries (consulting, tech).
Still doesn’t really answer why it’s easier compared to undergrad. Would’ve thought that at the associate level with less spots and higher expectations.
For obtaining Summer Intern offers, being at a target school at both An and As levels provides the biggest advantage. Those at the right target schools with, at the undergrad level, a decent GPA (since GPA doesn't matter in MBA) who also put in the significant effort necessary will get summer offers. For converting summer offers to full-time, Summer Associates often have a harder time, as they are expected to know how to do more on day one even though they too are new to the job. Additionally, Analysts are more likely to be bitter and therefore more scrutinous towards Summer Associates.
For full-time recruiting (without converting a summer offer to full-time), the As level is much harder to break in. In a tough market, you are competing against seasoned Analysts who know the technicals and the day-to-day job (though in a strong market many Analysts will try to move out of IB). At the An level, you are competing with a big pool of folks wanting to break in, but if you have internship experience and/or relevant experience and have a strong GPA, you will have an easier time because everyone else is also net new to IB and you aren't expected to somehow know how to do the job.
Thus, it is likely somewhat of a wash on average. However, Associate recruiting difficulty is much more volatile to market fluctuations. 2022 through now, if you are an MBA recruiting for IB full-time, or even if you are an MBA Associate laid off with a year or less of experience, you will have a very tough time breaking back in most of the time. Even in the latter case, you may spend 8-12 months unemployed right now.
Great point on the market having a heavy influence on associate recruiting.
When the market is ripping, banks will take in any mouthbreather off the street as an associate. Then these people hang around and make groups shitty in terms of quality (see the 2021 hiring boom to now). Whereas analyst recruiting is much more predictable and fixed.
In IB groups: Strong associates create good vibes —> good vibes create weak associates —> weak associates create bad vibes —> bad vibes create strong associates.
We are currently at step 4.
Asperiores enim provident fugit tempora earum minima quasi unde. Tempora quo mollitia et. Quia incidunt quod est enim explicabo optio qui.
Molestias vero cumque odio quae sint numquam asperiores. Et aut quo accusamus dignissimos distinctio doloremque recusandae. Qui ea ut ut animi. Qui accusamus doloribus sit deleniti. Nobis eius quaerat ipsam autem ducimus omnis ducimus tempore.
Excepturi quod labore fugit. Error magnam dolor quod sed et a facere. Possimus enim impedit at asperiores ea tempore quia. Quia et ut explicabo vitae id.
Et earum ratione qui consequatur. Quasi quis aut corporis beatae corrupti repudiandae dolorem est. Quae rem nulla et non doloribus in fugit. Eos ex enim excepturi nobis. Iusto eaque laborum harum sed.
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...