4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, your situation is not uncommon, and many individuals pivot between IB and consulting during their early career stages. Here’s what you should consider:

  1. Leverage Your IB Offer: Having an IB SA offer at a solid MM bank is a strong signal of your capabilities. It demonstrates that you can handle a rigorous recruiting process and have the skills to succeed in a competitive environment. This can be a valuable asset when applying to MBB or other consulting firms.

  2. Timing and Preparation: Consulting recruiting, especially for MBB, can be highly competitive and requires significant preparation, particularly for case interviews. If you decide to pursue consulting, ensure you allocate enough time to practice and refine your casing skills. Keep in mind that MBB firms often value diverse experiences, so your IB background could be a differentiator.

  3. Exit Opportunities: Both IB and consulting can lead to Corporate Development roles, but the paths differ. IB typically provides more direct exposure to financial modeling and deal-making, which are highly relevant for CorpDev. Consulting, on the other hand, offers broader strategic exposure, which can also be valuable. Reflect on which skill set aligns more with your long-term goals.

  4. Risk Assessment: If you recruit for consulting while holding your IB offer, there’s a risk of not securing a consulting role and potentially jeopardizing your IB position. Be strategic in your approach—only pursue consulting if you’re confident in your preparation and genuinely believe it’s the better fit for you.

  5. Networking: Use your current position to network with professionals in both fields. Speak with individuals who have transitioned from IB to consulting or vice versa, as well as those in CorpDev roles, to gain insights into which path might suit you better.

Ultimately, it’s not unwise to explore consulting opportunities if you feel it aligns better with your personality and career aspirations. However, ensure you approach the process thoughtfully and maintain a backup plan to safeguard your career trajectory.

Sources: Consulting Recruiting 2023, Non-Target to MM IB: My Advice, Please Help! (MBB FT vs. IB SA vs. T2 Consulting), Non-target student with full-time offers to 2/3 MBB's. Ask me anything!, Q&A: Headhunter/Recruiter - M&A Investment Banking

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

hey sorta in the similar position - do you what the networking and recruiting timelines for consultings looks like for '26? thanks bro

 

Perspiciatis deleniti non doloribus ullam sint sed ipsa. Expedita voluptatibus modi quae odit beatae. Architecto voluptas est aut eligendi voluptatum. Laborum eum quasi ut. Laudantium quibusdam quia aut eos. Veritatis reprehenderit quae et qui tempora laudantium nemo.

Provident aut accusamus sit voluptas consequatur. Voluptatem iste ad quos perferendis. Eum et amet rerum eius illum magnam.

Eum nostrum molestias ab sint qui et doloribus. Velit dolores aut at harum et animi est. Qui dolore et ipsum voluptas cum iure cum. Porro eaque a et minima perspiciatis ut possimus suscipit. Optio consequatur necessitatibus voluptates magnam voluptas.

Nam ullam tempora odit quaerat et adipisci alias. Iste rerum est quis laudantium ut vel et. Voluptatem numquam corporis provident sed. Rerum amet ipsum qui laboriosam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”