I'm currently a first-year MBA associate and looking to lateral. I'm in processes at several firms. How would you rank the following for someone post-mba? I haven't decided whether I want to be a career banker or attempt to jump to a hedge fund or go the corporate route. These roles are not in the same location but let's take that out of the equation for a minute.
-WF (top group)
-HL (Satelite office)
-Blair tech(Satelite office)
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Blair tech boston, HL IND Minnesota, WF REGAL NY?
What makes REGAL the top WF group?
One of the top groups at WF but not one that a lot of people on here get excited about.
I'd be hard pressed not to take Blair Tech. They look to have crushed 2021.
Just look at the buyers or investors involved in just 2H 2021 deals alone... Vista, Thoma Bravo, Warburg, EQT, PSG, Apax, Advent, etc.
Would exit ops differ between the two considering I’m an associate? Do MM associates have better/worse exits?
I don't have enough knowledge to weigh in on HL (assume strong coverage group) vs. Blair tech, but Associates anywhere (including WF) have worse exit ops than analysts. It's going to be an uphill battle.
Do you live in any of these current cities? If it is going to be a move, you may want to simply pick the best group/culture/fit.
Analyst at WB so can’t speak to exit opps, but I’d say if you want to be a career banker it’s WB tech by a mile.
Like someone mentioned, look at WB tech deals. WB runs MM tech and ends up on some super interesting mandates that definitely punch above the firms weight- haven’t been staffed on anything below $1B yet.
Firm has great internal promotion (plenty of MDs started as analysts or associates) and great comp. Culture better than any banks where I have friends. We obviously work hard, but people genuinely care about you and aren’t douchebags. Happy to answer any questions about WB
I appreciate the insight. What are the hours like for associates and VPs? What do you think it is that makes so many people stay there longterm? Is it true that they cross staff between Chicago, SF, Boston, and Atlanta?
My associates/VPs are basically never online after midnight. Maybe once in a while on a super high pressure deliverable but twice a month at most. Decent amount of Sunday work (protected Saturday’s are respected)
Yes on cross staffing, nice thing with tech is it’s pretty evenly spread. There are MDs in every office and co-heads sit in Boston/SF so doesn’t feel like you are missing out if in a satellite office.
Former WF analyst who left for a BB - heres my 2 cents just off my experience, YMMV:
WF - great WLB, crappy deal flow and exits
WB - Decent WLB (relative to some other MMs), great deal flow and good exits/internal promos
HL - Awful WLB, great deal flow, great exits
Personally I'd take WB
If you were at a firm like wf already with ok wlb, would you switch to a WB? This is from an associate perspective.
Depends on what you want, but the way I saw it, your longterm earnings trajectory is a direct reflection of the quality and volume of deals you've worked on. Plenty of people I met at WF were content with punching in everyday, taking a co-manager role on deals, collecting their paycheck and going home. Personally I think the way to go is to get the best experience possible while you're young (within reason on WLB front) so that when you eventually take your foot off the gas later in life, you are coasting from a much higher starting point on the mountain. I'd hate to be a 45 year old MD at WF with kids to put through college and no real quality experience and industry contacts to underpin my job security. You and I both know MDs at WF in this camp. If you want to stay in Banking / buyside longterm and be well compensated, the best course of action imo is to get to a shop with a better name and dealflow. Again, all just my opinion.
Not WF.
You work there?
No, but the other two choices are much better options for MM M&A. I can't recall the last time we competed against WF, but HL and WB are great competitors (and they also pay much better than WF).
Can anyone comment on wlb at HL and Blair?
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