Have offer from 3 shops for a lateral associate role, with one that I just got email from HR to start interviewing. What are reputation like across these 4 shops in 2024? Can people shed light on deal flow, pay and WLB?
| +100 | No return so what are the options left | 47 | 15h |
| +70 | One year since I didn't get a return - advice | 7 | 15h |
| +27 | Not Getting a Return Feels Like Everything Was Taken From You | 12 | 8h |
| +26 | Contradictory and Bad End of Year HR Review | 13 | 4d |
| +15 | Seeking Advice | 5 | 14h |
| +12 | What do I do atp | 16 | 5d |
| +12 | Tech -> High Finance, Need either reassurance my plan could work, or a brutal reality check | 5 | 40m |
| +10 | BB finance analyst trying to pivot — how would you do it? | 1 | 1d |
| +10 | Recruiting chances | 6 | 1d |
| +9 | Full Time Recruitment | 2 | 4d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Blair
Not enough details for for us to opine thoughtfully.
What region? What sector? What kind of firm are you coming from? Why do you want to leave? What are your priorities for your next opp? Are there any major differences in the offers (different geo, different lateral level, etc)?
All for Chicago, coming from Piper/Truist. Trying to get the most learning experience but hopefully try to not get burnout along the way. If sweaty, then hopefully the deal flow and pay makes it worth it. Will be aiming to get to VP.
What industry?
All 4 have great cultures (for banks). Your biggest tradeoff will be deal flow vs WLB (aka inverse relationship between the two).
Lincoln has strong culture but does a large number of very small deals. Best in industrials. Definitely worst on the list for exits because of that. Known for not getting too analytical (inch deep, mile wide diligence)
RayJay is great in Tech and consumer. Tech is sweaty, tho great deal flow. Strong placements into PE.
Blair got crushed last year with internal financial management. Have done some optimization and sentiment is great for this year. Tech / HC border EB status and are absolutely crushing it this year.
Baird’s best groups are industrials and defense. Huge variance in groups tho. More so than RayJ for example. Classic chicago firm: good culture, protected saturdays etc
Would definitely say there is a dropoff from Baird/Blair to Lincoln/RJ. All are great shops but from a reputational standpoint Baird/Blair are more highly regarded in terms of exits and "prestige". Despite iffy bonuses comp at Baird/Blair have been considerably better, but WLB Lincoln at least from what I've heard is very strong.
I would tend to agree with this. Baird/Blair continously bring in top level talent that choose these shops over BBs and EBs for WLB/location. Firms are very similar and would take whichever one you see better mentorship opps
Know a few folks at both and if it were 5 years ago I would say Blair>Baird no question. A lot has changed in the last 18 months and if you would have both offers on the table I would be inclined to tell you to take Baird. Lincoln/RJ are also good shops but are just very group dependent
Ut consequatur qui impedit ipsa aliquam eum. Excepturi blanditiis dolores eius eligendi cumque sed quo. Voluptas eum neque itaque sed. Eaque sit sunt sed assumenda vel commodi aut accusantium. Minus quo optio corrupti quae.
Neque ut explicabo veritatis alias omnis est. Et nihil quia dolores alias. Et in voluptas fugit illum quas voluptatem vitae. Explicabo ea sit sint odio.
Maiores doloremque et repellat reiciendis qui autem earum. Sed quo laudantium qui mollitia ut enim. Recusandae cupiditate et in placeat quos esse.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...