Actual IBD job requirements at EBs

Here are the actual requirements (even for DEI candidates, who are in a different "bucket" of candidates) for recruiting at my top EB (PJT/CVP/LAZ/EVR). Any candidates who do not meet these requirements, even if their dad is a MD gets rejected outright.

Exhaustive List:

• Attend a US T15/Ivy or a UK T5 (Not US News rankings but their own internal list, as schools like WashU, Northwestern, UCB and Caltech don't make the cut)

• Have at least 3.6 GPA or a 2.1 (UK)

• Be at least 6'1 (for men) or 5'9 (for women)

• Have family connections who are able to bring in M&A/CM/RX deals

• Be rated an average of 9/10 on physical attractiveness by a selected committee of both genders who work at the EB (they tend to prefer eurocentric features, so even 10/10 (subjectively) minorities get rejected)

• Played at least 1 sport in high school or college to a state level 

• Are well groomed and dressed, with conventional hairstyles for men and long, straight hair for women. Men with long hair or women with dreadlocks have been rejected solely on that basis

• Speaks English without a ethnic/regional accent, candidates with heavy Southern or African accents have been rejected. Conventional British accents are acceptable

• Is "in the know" when it comes to political, social and cultural concepts.

• Dresses well, with a list of articles of clothing or brands that mandate an instant rejection (retail/clearance brands, dated/unconventional styles, banned colors and materials) 

• Was in a top-tier (nationwide top 8) fraternity or sorority (US students) and held a leadership position within their chapter

• Free of physical, verbal or mental disabilities (veterans with disabilities are excluded)

Some of these things are not well known in the industry and I just wanted to share these requirements that we've been required to filter candidates by from the C-Suite (who told HR to f*ck themselves when they complained about dreadlocks, disabilities, accents being discriminatory). In short, not every shop will have these requirements, but the smaller and most "elite" ones will, especially for their flagship groups (usually RX/M&A).