SA Lateral

Hello,

I am slated to begin as a summer analyst at a midlevel BB TMT group (Citi/DB/Barcap/UBS) in June, and while I am looking forward to the opportunity, I am not sure if I want to stay on at the bank full time and am thinking about lateraling after my internship due to past analyst's and their exit opportunities.

Many of the analysts in the group I am joining previously either stay as an associate or go on to corporate finance and it doesn't look to be a bank with even decent PE opps. Although I have not experienced what the banks culture is like, I am really interested in PE and want to put myself in the best position I can to do that with a bank that has good opps.

I just wanted to find out the best way to go about lateraling to another firm after the summer (assuming a return offer). My plan was to network early and get on other banks' radar, but I just wanted to know how early to start networking (wait until internship starts or start as early as now?) and eventually interview after hopefully getting a return offer.

Also, when networking, how should I frame my intentions for thinking about different banks for full time rather than the one I would be at without talking bad about the firm (was thinking culture fit)? What is the best way to network during the internship without my current bank finding out? Would love to get some advice or hear of any experiences people had.