Three different companies within 4-5 years?

I've searched the forums, but couldn't find much information regarding my specific situation. Basically I'm finishing up my first year in audit with a Big 4 firm and actively looking to get into banking. I initially had planned on targeting specifically "no name" boutique firms and then making a lateral move to a more respected MM firm after a year to get better experience. My concern is that I want to go to MBA eventually and I don't know how it'll look upon my profile if I've worked at three different companies in such a short period of time. I don't want to be seen as someone that can't stay within one place. But at the same time, I'm 100% sure that I don't want to be in audit.

Some of you might ask why did I do auditing in the first place. Quite honestly, I had no intentions of doing business going into undergrad. Somewhere along the line, I realized business the career I wanted to go down. But considering how poor recruiting was in '08 & '09 and with very little experience, I had no choice but to take an offer with Big 4.

Thanks for your advice!

4 Comments
 

Not an expert by any means so take my advice with a grain of salt. I think if you can show a clear progression (i.e. why you took the audit job initially, what you learned there that made you interested in banking, how does MM banking fit better into your overall career goals than no name boutique), you should be fine. For B-School applications, the thought process behind why you made a decision is a lot more important than the decision itself.

 

Dude I've been at GS, MS and JPM in 2 and a half years just because I didn't like my groups so don't worry about switching companies, it's easier to lateral than to move to a better group within the same bank.

 
JackJMDude I've been at GS, MS and JPM in 2 and a half years just because I didn't like my groups so don't worry about switching companies, it's easier to lateral than to move to a better group within the same bank.
bullshit
-MBP
 

Atque accusamus vel qui vel. Sapiente voluptatem optio explicabo perspiciatis. Ea in quam minus nisi aperiam quisquam facere. Quis ut ut qui aliquid.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”