SA Lateral

Hello,

I am slated to begin as a summer analyst at a midlevel BB TMT group (Citi/DB/Barcap/UBS) in June, and while I am looking forward to the opportunity, I am not sure if I want to stay on at the bank full time and am thinking about lateraling after my internship due to past analyst's and their exit opportunities.

Many of the analysts in the group I am joining previously either stay as an associate or go on to corporate finance and it doesn't look to be a bank with even decent PE opps. Although I have not experienced what the banks culture is like, I am really interested in PE and want to put myself in the best position I can to do that with a bank that has good opps.

I just wanted to find out the best way to go about lateraling to another firm after the summer (assuming a return offer). My plan was to network early and get on other banks' radar, but I just wanted to know how early to start networking (wait until internship starts or start as early as now?) and eventually interview after hopefully getting a return offer.

Also, when networking, how should I frame my intentions for thinking about different banks for full time rather than the one I would be at without talking bad about the firm (was thinking culture fit)? What is the best way to network during the internship without my current bank finding out? Would love to get some advice or hear of any experiences people had.

 
Best Response

It happens. Most important thing is getting that return offer and making a good impression where you are because if you don't, you're going to be in a really rough spot. Work hard, but you can definitely also reach out to contacts (hopefully either alumni or contacts you cultivated during the SA recruiting cycle so it's more organic) and see about their needs come FT. As a general rule, FT recruiting is very short and dependent on a number of factors including firm and group need, the quality of that firm's SA class, etc. It happens during the last couple of weeks in August and you need to really be on the ball to make anything happen but it does get done. Focus on what's in front of you but just be honest and strategic about reaching out and you'll set yourself up to have the opportunity to make something happen if there are spots available.

 

Its all about networking. The same holds true if you want to switch into different groups or divisions within your current bank.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

After my SA stint I had a couple of other banks call asking me to apply for a FT position with them. I wouldn't recommend lateraling unless you really had a bad experience with your group or really want a different "culture". Personally, I would rather strengthen relationships I have already started building than keep "trading up" and never really making a strong connection with any group.

 

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