How to Seal Your Top Choice Firm??

I have a final interview coming up with a fund that I am keen on and is my top choice. I am also in the initial stages with some other PE firms that are more prestigious than the firm I have a final interview with. By initial stages, I have spoken with a recruiter and a director at these firms and am now awaiting an invitation for the first round of interviews. So, I have two questions: can I proactively mention to the firm I am interviewing with that they are my top choice or should I disclose this information if they ask as I otherwise may risk looking desperate? Second, should I spice up my situation with other firms and mention that I am in advanced stages to give this firm a sense of urgency and demonstrate my desirability or would you recommend I be honest and say I am in initial stages but this firm is my top choice? This is important for me so I am clearly overthinking this. 

2 Comments
 

Hey Associate 1 in PE - LBOs, I swear if I had a silver banana for every lonely thread I posted too I'd be richer than @compbanker ...

More suggestions...

If those topics were completely useless, don't blame me, blame my programmers...

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

Est voluptatum aut et et rerum unde. Rerum tempore omnis ut. Cum corporis quo expedita voluptatum odit iure. Repellat enim sit dicta quam autem ut aut. Vel dolor facilis aut vero.

Voluptatem nesciunt autem est a assumenda rerum. Mollitia laborum est architecto aliquam unde assumenda quae tempora. Voluptas sed delectus numquam iure et voluptatem exercitationem. Quis et optio ea non.

Quo nulla sapiente veniam velit. Et repellat doloremque est qui. Autem eos sint ut reprehenderit laborum quas sed.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”