Chicago Exit Ops

I am currently in the interview process in Chicago with several banks, with a few offers on the table. The banks are 'elite' boutiques, regional BBs, and multiple upper MM firms. I really like one of the upper MMs (Baird/Blair), but want to know how that will affect my opportunities two and three years down the road.

How difficult is it to make a jump from a Baird/Blair to an upper MM PE firm inside, or outside, of the Chicago area. Also, I hate ranking firms, but which Chicago bank generally allows for the best exits for analysts. Aiming upper MM PE, not aiming for a mega fund.

22 Comments
 
Best Response

Baird and Blair Chicago both have a very strong reputation with MM PE funds. Analysts in the past have gone to MDP and GTCR, both upper MM funds in Chicago, as well as many other $1bn+ funds (Genstar, FFL, Summit, TA Associates, and Riverside to name a few).

Obviously, GS, CS, MS, and the other Chicago EB/BB's have great placement as well, albeit more regionally focused too.

Making it to an upper MM fund in NYC/SF/LA/Boston would be more of an uphill battle, but not entirely out of the question.

 

Doesn't matter by the location. Only group and company.

No one ever says, "Oh you did IB with Goldman in Chicago, so I think I'll go with someone who was with JP in NY..." IB at a BB anywhere, is still IB across the board. (but everyone wants to be in NY)

Goldman's coming off a banner year, so they've got the street buzzing. They're certainly in the limelight for now...

"Cut the burger into thirds, place it on the fries, roll one up homey..." - Epic Meal Time
 
vadremcDoesn't matter by the location. Only group and company.

No one ever says, "Oh you did IB with Goldman in Chicago, so I think I'll go with someone who was with JP in NY..." IB at a BB anywhere, is still IB across the board. (but everyone wants to be in NY)

This is completely wrong, lol. Actually, someone would say "Oh you did IB with Goldman in Chicago, so I think I'll go with someone who was with JP in NY..." (all else equal) since JPM NY is a better experience (deal flow wise, prestige wise, etc.) than Goldman Chicago.

 

I have heard that group matters.

So which groups in Chicago have the best exit opportunities? I read here that UBS LA, etc all place into excellent PE shops, but how do Chicago offices place into these excellent shops?

Anybody know someone who went to a top-level PE shop from a Chicago office?

TIA.

 

There are an incredibly large number of MM PE shops located in Chicago that would be interested in someone with Chicago PE experience. A large number of analysts from my bank end up in Chicago at PE firms each year. I will say that Chicago has some sort of "Private Equity Professional Association" that makes a resume book sometime in early Spring and many PE firms use it to hire pre-MBA positions. I didn't apply to any Chicago PE firms last year so I unfortunately don't have any additional details for you, but I suspect senior professionals at your firm will be aware of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Second the previous post. Having [unsuccessfully] superdayed at one of the mentioned banks, I managed to learn that many of its analysts proceeded to work for Chicago PE firms. UChicago and NWs' business schools are right there as well.

 

Facere eligendi aut unde hic. Similique explicabo quos autem dolores. Libero veritatis possimus asperiores officia animi sequi iure nisi. Suscipit dolores qui velit aut asperiores excepturi. Et vel et ullam quam.

Sequi totam quas qui qui quam qui. Mollitia ex aut quia tenetur aut dolorum. Possimus dicta et odit blanditiis modi neque quod. Ut cum magni dolores totam facere beatae. Magni in facere alias.

Fugit est quidem vel quis. Cumque non saepe aut sequi molestiae. Soluta aspernatur asperiores quas sint amet itaque dolorum. Quod voluptatem aut facilis veniam et deleniti velit dolore.

Sit nihil ex minima est consequatur. Doloremque fuga hic eum rerum quis nesciunt. Aut labore accusantium quod necessitatibus iste. Perferendis non in placeat est occaecati assumenda iste.

 

Aliquam et totam atque adipisci. Nam nulla ea voluptatem. Temporibus provident corporis minus illo minima. Maxime aut velit aut laboriosam culpa id autem id.

Similique quidem vel ullam impedit quia voluptatem. Possimus fugit modi quo est et assumenda nemo. Reprehenderit aut rerum et itaque totam corrupti architecto. In odio pariatur maxime illum dolorem ipsam.

Voluptatem quae hic consequuntur aperiam voluptatem. Ut voluptas culpa minima et nobis qui. Ut animi ipsum repellendus.

Sed distinctio qui et dolore. Nobis quam ut voluptatem ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”