lateral

I've been at a no-name LMM boutique IB for about 18 months now, and have finally garnered enough deal XP to feel comfortable in interviews. I've taken all of the WSO, Financial Edge, and WSP modeling courses (Three-Statement, Precedents, Comps, M&A, LBO, DCF) to mitigate the lack of modeling at my...

23 Mar 2023

With firms like Blair laying off, where are people going? Is there a lateral market right now?

15 Mar 2023

Hello everyone, I need some advice regarding my situation. I already secured an offer with a tier 2 bank in their SF office. However, because I still want to lateral to NYC, I am looking to apply for a BB in NYC. I am just wondering if I should do this because if my current bank finds out I am...

23 Feb 2023

I'm currently a capital markets advisory analyst at a smaller firm (

28 Jan 2023

Wondering what exit opps are possible and places to go from a structuring role in a Securitised Products Team in a IB. Does anyone also have any experience or is it viable to lateral from the Securitised Products Team to the LevFin team or Restructuring? Thanks

08 Jan 2023

Hi All, I am an associate at a LMM boutique investment bank. I worked my way up the ranks fairly quickly just based on my transaction experience (I got promoted to associate after 17 months). Is it possible to lateral to a MM/BB shop as an analyst? Does being an associate hurt me in a recruiting...

03 Jan 2023

Hi guys, hope everyone is having a great holiday season. For context -- I am a non-target school, second year analyst at a boutique Investment Bank. I am looking to lateral to a MM or BB depending on the group. I would really appreciate some advice on the networking side of the lateral process. The...

27 Dec 2022

I'm an incoming FT analyst at a large US bank. I had a great summer internship with a banking team (within the bank's corporate and investment banking division, but wouldn't be considered IB on its own), and I want to hear any advice for switching into one of the "real IB" groups at the bank. I like...

04 Dec 2022

I lateraled to a better bank earlier this year. After 3 months I've realized that I've made a terrible mistake. I don't clique well with the people in my office and I'm pretty miserable. I don't want to look like a job hopper but also want to be happy at work (especially working the hours we do)....

12 Nov 2022

Current associate in a solid industrials group with some M&A processes on the resume. I find the general IB work to be fine but am extremely interested in O&G / energy and my wife and I want to put roots down and live in Houston long term Given that I'm coming from a non-O&G group and with limited...

07 Nov 2022

Any BB/EB tech groups hiring first years (laterals) right now? Let me know if any groups are actively looking

06 Nov 2022

Starting at a MM coverage group outside of NYC in January. Looking to eventually lateral to a BB or EB in NYC, and was curious about what that timeline normally looks like. Does recruiting / interviewing start around the end of summer, or would I need to wait a year after starting? Any insight would...

24 Oct 2022

Hi I'm just going into my second year as a coverage analyst in NYC at a MM bank. Looking for advice on lateraling to a BB IB P&U/Renewables team? For background, I interned and accepted the return offer during Covid and went to a top school. My situations is I like the people on my team, but want to...

22 Oct 2022

As the title suggests, looking to lateral to another group at my bank that my group works a lot with. On paper, looks easy but there are some internal politics which may make it difficult. Also, have looked externally to lateral but no getting a ton of luck there. Should I bringing it up to my...

24 Sep 2022

I got an offer from a MM fund. Not exactly the space I am targetting How hard is it to make the move to a Large Cap / UMM, if I decide this isnt for me?

15 Sep 2022

I'm recruiting for 2023 SA for IB at a target school. I've exhausted most of my opportunities at working at any BB/EB. I have some late recruiting cycles left, but it's looking grim. I'm sure there are others in my exact position getting anxiety about the same shit. If a lower BB doesn't work out,...

24 Jul 2022

A very simple question. Is it possible to lateral form a regional office (think Milan/Paris/Frankurt) to London (or eventually NY)? If so, when does it happen generally? And what's the typical procedure? Any input or experience is strongly appreciated. Thanks!

07 Jul 2022

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18 Jun 2022

Greetings WSO, looking for advice from the salty monkeys out there: Short Term Objective: Lateral into MM / BB Long Term Objective: MM or MF PE Context: I am a first-year analyst at a MM boutique doing M&A in the tech / software space looking to lateral into a top MM or BB as soon as possible....

08 Jun 2022

Current Situation: Just finished junior year, heading into the summer where I am doing a s&t program. I am considering going back after my senior year (which is 22-23) to do a masters in finance (23-24) and play out my last year of eligibility. Thoughts on going back for a fifth year and playing/...

18 May 2022

Hi guys, was wondering what the key differences in exit opps are between analysts and associates in IB. I know associates don't recruit on-cycle, but don't know much besides that. I am at a MM bank; I like my team a lot, but don't see myself being an MD. I also am in a coverage group, and would like...

27 Apr 2022

I'm currently preparing for group-specific lateral interviews with a top BB (GS/MS/JPM). How long does the typical process take from interviewing to getting an offer? Will there be a superday just like SA and FT recruiting? Will the interviews be conducted over Zoom or in-person?

19 Apr 2022

I have a few lateral interviews coming up, but at my firm (small shop), I haven't had much LBO or 3 statement modeling experience, and I've been there for a year. I can balance a 3 statement model and do a paper LBO, understand the basics of it and all, but not much on the job experience. Wondering...

16 Apr 2022

Im going to be a SA in a Japanese firm this summer in one of their US offices. I am looking to possibly recruit at the end of the summer to lateral to a more traditional US based BB for full time. I know that the full time recruiting cycle for the post internships depend firm to firm and how many...

13 Apr 2022

I'm currently recruiting for SA23 positions and received an offer from Lincoln International for Chicago SA2023. It seems that Lincoln isn't the best for real modeling experience and exit opportunities. So, I was wondering what the process for lateraling to a bigger/better bank (EB/BB) or...

08 Apr 2022

I'm looking to lateral firms from a regional boutique to a larger middle-market bank as an AN2. Curious about: 1- lateral recruitment timeline (approx) and current job market for banking (is it as good as it was this time last year) 2- I don't think I've gotten adequate modeling experience at my...

01 Apr 2022

I'm currently a first year analyst at UBS in banking. Like many others, I would like to go to the best PE firm I can out of banking. Should I lateral after my bonus to a EB/GS tier bank and recruit off cycle (assuming on cycle is in the next 3 months), or just study now and try to recruit from UBS?...

26 Mar 2022

I'm a second year analyst in IB in NYC, and I accepted a PE offer a few months ago at a UMM firm in Boston. At the time, I thought it would be a good idea to accept because the firm reputation / culture / exit opps are great. However, as the start date is inching closer and closer (I'm starting this...

14 Mar 2022

I'm currently in a top group at WF and thinking of lateraling to a top MM, think Blair/Baird/HL. Would this move be worth it or am I better just staying at WF? Would it change my exit ops? How do the lifestyles compare?

09 Mar 2022

Hi all, I was hoping to get some solace from this post as I have been feeling very lost over the past couple of weeks. I recently joined a top BB coverage group on the west coast from a MM IB in the Midwest. At the MM IB, I was one of the top performers in my group and received plenty of praise and...

22 Feb 2022

I know this has been talked about but I'm curious how many people at the post-mba level regret not doing consulting. I chose banking because I've always worked in financial services in some capacity and I enjoy finance. The problem is that as an IB associate I dont feel like I get to scratch that...

24 Jan 2022

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21 Jan 2022

I know that people normally say to wait a year but would it be a bad look for an associate to lateral after 7 months to change cities and be closer to family?

18 Jan 2022

Currently A1 in a technology-focused M&A boutique, soon to be A2. The experience has been great but it's starting to dawn on me that technology doesn't excite me at all. Sitting through endless due diligence calls between engineers or programmers is a slog and I always end up losing focus. None of...

17 Jan 2022

I'm a first year associate looking to lateral. Can anybody share some info on the lateral process at Blair? How difficult are the interviews and what should I expect in terms of technicals?

13 Jan 2022

I'm currently a first-year MBA associate and looking to lateral. I'm in processes at several firms. How would you rank the following for someone post-mba? I haven't decided whether I want to be a career banker or attempt to jump to a hedge fund or go the corporate route. These roles are not in the...

04 Jan 2022

Maybe I should've posted this in the consulting forum, but has any first/second years here lateralled out from IBD to MBB? I'm at a bank making street salary+, but for a better WLB, I'm considering a lateral to MBB. Everything about consulting seems better (grass is always greener though...) but the...

03 Jan 2022

Hi all, I've recently landed (and accepted) an offer at an established economic consulting firm (think Cornerstone/CRA/AG). I'll be joining as a first-year analyst immediately after graduation from a target school, but it certainly isn't too early to be looking ahead. After a brief scroll through...

08 Dec 2021

Hi everyone, My older brother did not start in IB and now after a year working in some middle office role he would like to lateral to IB. I went through the SA recruiting process, and I was wondering how technical ready he should be. He has never really studied the 400q guide and does not know how...

07 Dec 2021

I'm a first year associate at WF (one of their better groups). I haven't decided what I want to do long term. I'm in between trying my hardest to get to a hedge fund or possibly corporate strategy within my industry group. Is it worth it to lateral to a better firm (either top BB, top MM or EB)? I...

06 Dec 2021

I'm a first year IB associate and while I like I team I have decided that I want to lateral at some point. The market right now is obviously hot and I have recruiters emailing me constantly but I feel like it's too early to make the move. Should I be striking now while the irons hot or do you think...

04 Dec 2021

I am currently working at a super small no-name shop. I want to move to a bigger shop. I did a lot of studying while in undergrad but have not studied for a while(I am one year out of undergrad). What interview questions do you get asked when you try to lateral from a no-name shop to a MM or a BB...

01 Dec 2021

Hello - I'm currently working at a top BB (think GS/MS) in Hong Kong (IBD). I come from a target US university and would ideally want to be able to get back into the US after working in HK for a year or so. I would need sponsorship, but don't need the H1B visa. Has anyone made such a switch before?...

30 Nov 2021

I'm curious how much the bank you work for affects exit ops for an mba associate. I'm a first year at WF and wondering if it's worth lateraling or if I should stick it out. Should I try to lateral now while the market is hot or wait until I've been at the bank for a year? I also want to change...

16 Nov 2021

Is anyone familiar with the lateral interview process at Greenhill? Are there modeling tests like at some EBs or will it be less technical like at BBs? Any insight is appreciated.

18 Oct 2021

For some context, I was part of the 2019 SA program in sales and trading at a top BB (think GS//MS/Citi), but unfortunately I didn't make the cut then. The reason I was given was due to no headcount on my desk (which was true to a certain extent as they didn't hire an analyst till Two years later),...

14 Oct 2021

After graduating in May 2020 and working in Big 4 Advisory, I lateraled to Raymond James/Blair/Harris Williams level TMT groups this past August/September. I am thinking about recruiting for PE next year but am not sure my current groups will give me the best shot at top PE firms - I am not 100% set...

11 Oct 2021

Am considering getting my CFA® to be more marketable in the industry. I went to a semi-target, graduated with PBK honors and am at a LMM regional bank. What are everyone's thoughts on attaining a CFA® and if it's worth it to help lateral to a BB/EB? TIA :)

04 Oct 2021

Long time lurker, first time poster. I've been hot and cold on making the switch to investment banking for a few months now and would love to get some outside opinions. I'll do my best to keep everything "anonymous"... Bit of background: Graduated from a non-target with a non-finance (but...

30 Sep 2021

I'm currently an A1 at a regional boutique LMM bank, with the goal of eventually exiting to PE. I'm well aware that exit opps from a regional boutique to PE are very limited, so I would imagine lateraling to a more well known bank is a better bet. A few recruiters have reached out to me about...

22 Sep 2021