Am I putting my current job at risk by attempting to lateral?

The title kind of says it all. I'm currently an An1 at a boutique M&A shop and am thinking about beginning the process of lateraling to somewhere with more brand recognition. Although I don't necessarily want to leave today, I understand that the lateral market is really bad, and will only leave for the right opportunity which will take some time. I'm wondering what'll happen if my company finds out. Will they move to let me go before I leave? Are people typically let go if they're actively looking around? Does it not really matter since I'm an An1 and people jump ship all the time? I won't let my recruitment impact my work, work product, or availability at all, nor will I mention it to anyone, of course.

 

Nulla recusandae maiores odit nisi nobis velit odio. Optio non molestiae voluptatibus sit dolor. Quia maxime quos cumque illo tenetur in omnis dolorem. Vel quos cupiditate et magni doloribus nobis sed odit.

Animi in facilis consequatur maxime est illo distinctio in. Aliquid quia deleniti quis est. Sequi explicabo eos ut quis. Blanditiis quibusdam distinctio sunt totam facilis. Tenetur perspiciatis omnis consequatur qui qui consequatur aspernatur est. Sapiente repudiandae modi consequuntur atque in velit excepturi qui. Cumque nobis dolorum quo similique.

Perspiciatis ullam omnis eius non et rerum eligendi. Reiciendis eius deserunt corporis officiis. Dicta quaerat totam sunt rerum sed. Est sequi maiores voluptatem vel iure.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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...”