West Coast Banking from East Coast Target?
Going to a "target" school on the East Coast (Cornell/Dyson, Gtown, Brown, Stern, Northwestern) type school. I want to work on the West Coast for various reasons (weather, family, etc...) What are my chances of breaking into SF or LA banking after graduation? How would I go about it? Is it common for kids at top East Coast schools to go West Coast industry after graduation? Also, how are PE exit opps post-IB in the West Coast vs the East? Is it better to thug it out on the East Coast for 2 years and then try and find a PE exit on the West Coast or is it better to just go to the West Coast from day 1? Thanks.
Breaking into West Coast banking from an East Coast target school is definitely possible, but it requires strategic planning and effort. Here's what you need to know:
Chances of Breaking into SF or LA Banking:
How to Go About It:
Commonality of East Coast Students Going West:
PE Exit Opportunities: West Coast vs. East Coast:
East Coast IB to West Coast PE vs. Starting West Coast IB:
Recommendation: If you're certain about wanting to work and live on the West Coast long-term, it may be better to target West Coast IB roles from the start. However, if you're open to exploring broader opportunities and are confident in your ability to network, starting on the East Coast and transitioning later is also a viable path.
Sources: I-Banking in Cali, West Coast Target Schools?, Fish Out of Water - East Coast to West Coast Transition, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/william-blair-tech-exit-opps?customgpt=1, UC Berkeley Undergrad for IB Recruiting
Context: Am a senior at one of the schools you mentioned who did their SA at an SF bank. Not going back but can add my 2 cents.
Most (all?) of the west coast teams do their own recruiting, so you can apply directly into their processes. The trouble is that there are often fewer alums in SF/LA from schools on the east coast, so it can be harder to break into interview cycles. That said, it is far from impossible. Make sure to hit all of the alums from your school in each west coast team specifically. Also, have a lights out "why abc sector/vertical." Because most of the west coast teams are verticalized (i.e. tech for SF, A&D/Media for LA) they go deep on your interest in that space specifically. If you can demonstrate real interest in a given sector, it also gives your interviewers a bit of assurance that you're not just using SF/LA as a backup for a different platform in NY. You seem to have legitimate reasons for choosing the west coast, so I don't think convincing others that you want to be out west will be an issue.
Thanks. Lots of great info.
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