Should I apply for Goldman Analyst or Associate role?

All,

I'm pre-MBA coming out of two years as an analyst with a Big 3 consulting firm, with a finance background a summer interning with a boutique M&A shop.

With that level of experience would the analyst or associate role be the most appropriate to go after?

Thanks.

9 Comments
 

Analyst - don't see how 2 years in consulting gets you an assoc title w/o an MBA but if you hear from your network (or those better informed than I am here) then go for most you can get/

 

Probably a third year analyst because I don't see how two years of consulting would equal three years of banking.

 
Best Response

It wouldn't make sense for him to come in as an Associate after 2 years of consulting experience. You're switching industries and most of the time that means getting an MBA to even be competitive. Keep in mind you're going to a job that's going to be different than your last one and the guys who have been working in it for 2 years have been pulling 80+ hour weeks. They have a shitload of experience, how do you think you stack up against that? You could probably come in as an Analyst, and while I don't work in the industry, unless you're blowing an MD an MBA is probably the only (and best) way to start as an Associate. Unless you lika da cock.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

Thanks. I was leaning towards analyst being more realistic, but didn't want to unnecessarily limit the level I'd be joining at. Unfortunately the GS job description for associate is pretty ambiguous, so all the input is much appreciated.

 

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