How common is the Transition from Small Botique firm to a BB?

How common is it for people to start at a small I-Banking Botique firm and going to BB from there on? Any suggestions if I should stick the Small firm throughout as an analyst or try a bigger firm ( like a second tier bank or BB) after one year's experience.

Since I'm starting form a non target school, I'm not too sure as to what route to take to make it to BB.

 

I don't know of a lot of people who make the transition from small boutique to BB - if you really want to make the move up, you need to go in steps, i.e. from boutique to tier 2 to tier 1 to bb. But this process could take years.

All the more so since you're from a non-target school.

Sorry i couldn't be more positive.

 

So maybe, 1 year or 2 years at max in a small botique firm and after that straight into MBA and then into a BB. Does that sound like a reasonable transition?

Or should I try doing something else like work in a risk mgmt. or something then try MBA -> Associate Route.

Also, question for "thedownlow", did your friends who made the transition have any specific kind of experience at a second tier bank in Canada or other small botiques.

I'm just trying to understand as to what routes one can take to make it to BB?

 
Best Response

I did my extensive career search this summer and choose investment banking after that as the career of my choice. Unfortunately, my undergraduate education is not related to Investment Banking at all. Infact the only two FINANCE courses I have taken are "Theory of Interest" and "Introductory Accounting".

Since I'll be in my senior year now, I have a choice of one elective in which I plan to take a course in corporate finance. (so that might prepare me somewhat).

However, I took operations research in my undergraduate studies (a very very quantitative program). I have also had 2 internships in the financial industry (one in mutual fund reporting and the second one in risk management at a second-tier bank where I am presently working). I don't know how am I suppose to market myself to I-Bank botique firms even since I don't have the desired background of Business Education e.g. accounting, and lots of other finance courses, etc. Infact I question myself if its possible for me to even get into the I-Banking indsutry? (in particular, equity and debt origination)

Any comments/suggestions anyone.......

 

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