trying to lateral before officially start

So my question is simple:

I am set to start at a respectful MM in July and am thinking of lateral to a larger bank (a BB or EB) after a year or so for better PE opportunities, How do I network with professionals at the said larger bank/group?? More specifically, what do I tell them? I want to go to a better bank because I want to go to a better PE firm down the road? And I am not even starting yet at the MM, and if they know anybody at my MM and tell them, then I am fucked.

How should I phrase my reach out better and in a more acceptable and less risky way? My goal is to establish some relationships prior to my start and then maintain them and then ask down the road.

Thanks!!

2 Comments
 

Lots of people have the same plan as you. Start the ball rolling and learn about their group, especially if you are trying to lateral to a different group. People leave, get burnt out, move to PE/HF, move to another industry, there are always random spots opening up after month 6 of the first analyst year. Lots of smaller buy-side firms will poach junior bankers in the first year.

Personally, I'm a big fan of staying in the middle market. The top MM PE firms work on more interesting deals vs. the crazy buyouts with MFs. My 2 cents.

 

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