How hard is it to get PJT RSSG as a non-target non-diversity?

Wondering how hard it is to break in and If someone can shed light on the process. I go to a non-target in the Midwest. Should I even bother recruiting there?

Have they taken complete non-targets for SA/FT before?

Thank you!

39 Comments
 

Look at their past exits (which also lists their undergrad school), and look how many non targets there - basically none

 

If you’re able to network into the process, the rest is meritocratic. From my experience, they don’t actually care where you went to school once you’re sitting down in the interviews. 
The issue is that preparing for top Rx interviews without friends / alum who are familiar is difficult. 

 
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I have not found this to be true. PJT RSSG is pretty much as selective as it gets group wise at probably about the most selective EB on the street. From what I can see 90-95% of the entire group is Wharton, Harvard, Stanford or Yale. There are only 1 or 2 "non-target" SAs a year and really you could argue they are really semi targets. I see no way you get a spot at SA or analyst level unless you went to ivy,  top state or upper end of semi targets.

 

Stanford and Yale almost never send people to RSSG. I wouldn't be surprised if Stanford has never sent anyone, ever.

- RSSG 1st year

 

It's certainly possible but not likely, even as a standout candidate. Anyone recruiting for RX is well-prepared and well-networked, so it's really hard to stand out from a non-target - especially when there is strong alum involvement + OCR at their preferred schools, you'd basically be trying to sneak into the process. Go look at their exit lists on this forum, in the last 70 analysts the closest they've come to nontarget are branching out to schools like ND and USC.

If you're really set on RX I'd focus your efforts on banks with more track record of non-targets.

 

have a friend who interned there and the latest SA class was H/W with semitargets like NYU, UChicago and Georgetown

 

What does "bother recruiting there" mean? Like, should you send a cold email or two? Sure, there's no downside here.

Should you wait outside their offices and harass employees as they leave the building? Probably not, but would you do that for any firm?

What exactly was the in between you were thinking of, where there was downside to whatever minimal amount of time you are putting in to explore your options?

 

Diversity does not even matter for PJT RSSG and half the spot is usually taken by pipeline candidates from GPS. People are talking about Georgetown sending kids, but in reality, it is GPS sending kids from Georgetown. Closest thing I have seen to a “non-target” was a dude from USC. Like one dude in the history of their analyst classes, albeit the sample size is small.

 

I work at PJT. If you're not even at a semi-target I'd say your odds are slim to none...unless you have something like extraordinary about your profile - MVP of NCAA championship team, you're an internationally acclaimed pianist, or Steve Zelin is your dad. If you went to some no-name school you honestly might get a look if you got a perfect score on your ACT/SAT and have a 4.0 GPA, but even that wouldn't make you very competitive. Truth is - in a world where most firms/groups are caving to liberal pressures, PJT RSSG still really gives a fuck about prestige.

 

Do you know why RSSG doesn't do A2A? It can't be purely because the exits are great since other top groups like Goldman TMT, EVR M&A and even PJT M&A have A2As. I've just always wondered why the firm prefers to hire MBAs without RX experience and openly works to help analysts recruit elsewhere.

I'm returning FT to another RX group (HL, EVR etc) and still open to staying in RX long term so was just curious why this seems to be the case with PJT only and not other RX or top M&A groups. 

 

My guess is the people that they attract are certainly gunning for buy-side/looking to dip after analyst years and a combination of wanting to differentiate themselves from other “prestigious” groups. They literally track every single analysts and their schools, and their exits. They use that during OCR presentations to showcase their exits and attract the best candidates. If I could choose one bank to work for it would be PJT RSSG and GS TMT/MS M&A would not even come close. The perceived level of prestige, phenomenal buy-side exits, intellectual and friendly culture and top of the street pay is what PJT RSSG is known for and they will do whatever it takes to remain that way. Another evidence that they are forcing people to exit would be the fact that they actually allow their analysts to come back as associates a few years down the road.

 

Other comments covered it well, but for better or worse we're probably one of the most prestige-oriented groups in banking and breaking in from a non-target will be an extreme uphill battle given how small the group is. That being said, there's no loss in trying to recruit here if you have the time. After all, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

 

more nontarget friendly probably in part due to their larger class size, just check LinkedIn

 

Did nobody in this thread learn that you should explain what an acronym is before using it? GPS means Global Positioning System for 99.9% of people. Can someone explain what this is?

 

Well someone just made it for the first time ever from a complete non target; someone from Baruch just placed at RSSG.

 

Yeah Just Saw this. He had a pretty stacked resume. So not too suprised.

 

Since RX is a pretty niche area of finance. Is it maybe because some of these schools have a large exposure to what restructuring is?

 
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