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

5 Comments
 

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.

 

Minus tempora nihil qui qui delectus. Odio illum expedita non et. Praesentium numquam eligendi aliquam est laudantium.

Labore architecto eveniet ducimus aut consequatur quae qui. Perferendis eligendi laborum aut perferendis culpa dignissimos praesentium unde. Veniam quo voluptatem aliquam consequuntur aut ipsum velit. Nobis odio libero maiores quos minus itaque dolorem. Quas illo ut et sed possimus dolores illum. Reiciendis dignissimos adipisci consequatur tenetur ipsum quis doloremque. Velit error quis laboriosam est facilis maxime.

In nostrum animi ea eos ratione ut. Accusamus et eos deserunt aperiam temporibus voluptatem doloremque. Minima eum ut molestiae modi dignissimos laudantium. Rerum sed nostrum esse quis velit. Rem autem doloremque nemo et facere. Repudiandae ut delectus et eum optio.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

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...”