Breaking into AM from M&A

Dear All,

after working 6 months at a top BB als M&A analyst I am really troubled by the long working hours there and considering changing my career to a more work-life-balanced sector this summer (when I have completed my first year), among which AM.

Do you think it is difficult to jump from the sell-side to buyside at that early stage? And what is the best strategy to pitch myself?

Many thanks in advance!

 
Best Response

For two people in AM and M&A at top BBs you guys don't seem to exhibit extraordinary attention to detail... but I'm going to look past that for now.

Answering the OP's question - I think after one year it will be very possible for you to switch to a role within AM somewhere if that's what you want to do. Particularly since you probably also have a very good academic background if you got into a top M&A group. The other way around is more challenging... at least from what I've heard. I know of at least one concrete example of someone who was in the Industrials coverage/M&A group and switched to AM after 8 months. She told her bosses she didn't like the style of work and all the pressure, but she still liked finance, blah, blah, blah... and she got transfered within her bank to AM without too much struggle.

 

Hi International Pymp, thanks a lot for your reply. I am not pretty sure about the second alternative, as I think it put you role at risk if the seniors are not supportive about your idea and you have to live with the title of "uncommitment". I would rather try external options first and leverage them to get a better offer from my bank, if possible. How do you think?

 

Yeah... I'm not saying you should go to your superiors... that's what she did, but you don't want to do that unless it's a last resort. No need to piss them off incase you end up staying. My point was that M&A analysts are high quality talent and they can get jobs elsewhere... good luck.

 

What size AM firm do you want to go to? You could easily get a job at a boutique type place (~5-10b) as a lot of those places are treated like back up plans for guys that really want M&A in the first place.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Et maxime ipsam non natus dolorum. Est officia maiores ex unde facere exercitationem nemo. Praesentium deleniti et sed. Ad consectetur unde eum accusantium dignissimos voluptas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”