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Career Resources
Comp: In range with BBs, a lot of top buckets from that office
Exits: Great- looks from any tech UMM/MF (recent exits to Silver Lake, TB, Francisco, Vista), top GE (recent exit to Dragoneer), I'm sure HF recruiting is doable (don't have any datapoints). Pretty much if you're a good analyst from that office, you can get just about any interview you want. The difference between GS/MS SF PE recruiting is marginal to a point of insignificance. You will get the same opportunities from both shops.
Culture: absolute dogshit. Deal flow is insane, sharp elbow culture. Super sweaty office, have a good friend clocking 100+ per week for a while now.
Is the culture really that bad? I’ve heard people wfh after 6, don’t work most sundays. Is this just recruiting propaganda?
LMAO, honestly laughable they would tell you that. Yeah, maybe you can get a Sunday or Saturday off once a month, but that in no way translates to a good culture or healthy experience when you work 9-2 every other night. Also wfh doesn't really mean shit when you still working until 2-3am, and have an angry VP jamming you all night.
This makes me feel better that I didn't get an interview from them. Thx
Lmaooo
Ya their interviews for non-target SA were weird this year. Networked with a MD and everyone they wanted to interview got the email from the analyst running recruiting, but then they mostly only ended up interviewing people who accelerated the process with other BB/EB offers. Was quite odd.
Comp is on the low side for BBs and on the low side in general for banking. Numbers for this year sucked but this is more of an MS problem.
Hopefully better this year. 110 base and big bonus year from GS will probably make them pay up.
Bump. Is it really that bad?
Seriously ^
No lol it’s really not. The hours are long but that’s to be expected for a top group. I find the people far more reasonable and collaborative than you’d expect and not a ton of sharp elbows. Of course there’s an ass here and there but where is there not.
I really believe the caliber of clients/exits/prestige the group has is well worth the hours (which are not far worse than any other banking group).
we’re talking about one of the top industry group franchises on the street, deal flow will be high.
I interviewed here (so no experience on actual work, just met a bunch of them). The people were truly awful. Nerdy, hardo, and super bitchy during interviews. Reminds me of my one terrible VP at my current bank that has no problem blowing me up on a Friday night, except everyone there had that energy. I ended up withdrawing when I got an offer from a bank with a better cultural fit. I’m sure exit opps etc are amazing but wasn’t worth it to me.
Did you interview as a lateral or for a summer?
interviewed as an experienced analyst and really liked the people, very nice and thoughtful, no nerd or hardo vibes. But maybe this is purposeful to “sell” the group to candidates
wondering if our different experiences were because of intern lateral because in general I’ve found lateral interviews much more amicable than internship
It was for FT recruiting (I did another bank SA). Just felt like every interview was designed to make me seem dumb, which was just weird because I moved past a few rounds. Left every interview feeling like I bombed it and was going to get cut, then would get the next round invite.
can i dm about ur lateral interview experience please?
A plus is that you can walk across the parking lot to pick up some whores at the rosewood when needed.
does the group execute M&A mandates in house?
I believe so - there are dedicated tech M&A analysts (happens 6 months - year in). May be the only group at MS that does this
Absolutely fantastic exits every single year (MS Menlo has very good relationships with VCs/GEs and the group is very supportive of exits).
the hours are really long but at what top group is this not the case? Nobody goes to GS TMT, MS Menlo, etc etc for lifestyle.
MS is excellent in internet and software IPOs so you’ll get a ton of exposure to very high profile clients.
culture has also been turned around a bit by new group COO, new internal policies, etc
only con is being in Menlo but group has been hybrid since pre-covid (maybe the only group in IB where this is the case?) and currently only goes in one day a week with soft enforcement.
really can’t go wrong with this group, just be prepared to work (but that’s the point after all). One of the strongest industry franchises across banking for sure, runs tech along with GS (and Q) and it’s not close
Agree here. Top exits but you'll have to work for it. Helps a lot that the group is transparent about it and willing to connect you. Location is also great (San Hill road).
Senior banking team (Grimes and co.) is top notch and has all had long tenures with the group, intense but extremely accomplished and intelligent crew.
Analysts classes are also large (12+) so you'll have a great network across top MF, HF, GE/VC a few years out.
Deal flow is wild so buckle up but it's worth it.
Last $0.02 I have is to try to get a technical staffing or two (software M&A, semis), the group is very strong in IPOs so not uncommon for analysts to get tossed on IPO after IPO without ever touching a merger or paydown model (especially since there are now dedicated M&A analysts in Menlo). This isnt a bad thing (depending on what exits you want), just something to be cognizant of
Is it possible to go towards a credit focused HF from a top tech group if that's what you wanted to do?
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