Why are UK MD Profiles often rather „weak“

I often see this randomly on LinkedIn, when BB/EB make posts about deal announcements. 

A lot of times even at top BBs/EBs those MDs have a profile a long the lines of:


- rather non-target/semi target University background (i.e, University Nottingham or something in Ireland/Scotland) 
- 3-4 years experience at a big 4 such as KPMG after University 

- switch to a bank as associate where they work themselves up the ladder 

I mean obviously times were different back then, but according to WSO a CV like this (ie, weak Uni, big 4 background) is pretty much a dead-end so it is funny to see such profiles make it to the top. 

That being said:

a) this is all anecdotal evidence - it might be just a massive case of survivorship bias 

b) this phenomena is restricted to IBs. I have rarely seen less pedigreed candidates make it to a top bayside institutio

7 Comments
 

You also shouldn’t discount the fact that many high calibre people might not have had the opportunities or visibility that people and students have today.

Therefore, some might have taken a non-linear path and proven themselves at every turn.

 

It's a pretty well known inside joke that if you ask an MD how they got into banking they will tell you about a time some GS partner liked their attitude in a pub and offered them a job on a spot or something equally ridiculous.

It was simply easier to get IB roles back then. Plus a lot less people went to uni. So any uni was much better than nothing. 

Such profiles don't work now because the environment has changed. Labour markets, like all markets, evolve over time.

 
Most Helpful

Autem laudantium ut libero tenetur non rerum iste. Consequatur totam minima consequatur reiciendis possimus. Accusamus voluptatem reprehenderit voluptas rerum delectus exercitationem. Sequi beatae ut porro sed sit consequatur doloremque dolor. Ipsa velit ea vel voluptates laboriosam nemo blanditiis. Perspiciatis qui aut ea quaerat. Facilis aut eius dolorem dolorem rerum est.

Et quidem molestias nihil inventore deleniti ullam tempora. Officiis est possimus quaerat ea pariatur laudantium inventore. Quibusdam mollitia repellat minima consequuntur sed corrupti.

Modi sit corporis natus aliquam blanditiis animi velit. Repellendus enim error odit. Qui et voluptate sunt. Perspiciatis qui ea hic ipsum laudantium. Illo ut dolores occaecati doloremque ut et modi magnam. Veniam atque et consequuntur aut consequatur laborum cupiditate itaque.

Voluptatem eaque at sequi accusantium aspernatur. Et consequatur qui nostrum doloremque praesentium nihil eum. Sed qui repellendus qui amet. Voluptate ad ducimus et dicta et est. Et incidunt nulla at.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”