Lazard

CesareBorgia · 01-23-2008, 10:19 PM

It's interview week at UChicago, and I have 1st round interviews at BCG, UBS (I-banking), Lazard, Bain & Co. and Goldman Sachs (Investment Research) so far (only 1/2 of the interview decisions have come in yet).

The BCG & UBS interviews didn't go so well (i.e. I did alright, but I didn't perform spectacularly), so I'm not holding out hope for 2nd round interviews from them. The Lazard (M&A at NYC) interview went well, and I really enjoyed the conversation and think that I have a good chance at a 2nd round interview offer. I just wanted to ask: How is Lazard perceived on the Street? Is it easy to jump from Lazard M&A to Goldman M&A or Blackstone M&A? How about to Blackstone PE arm or other divisions at Goldman?

P.S. Goldman Investment Research is probably out of my reach, and I'm not sure how much I want Bain & Co. right now.

Superman123 · 01-24-2008, 01:40 AM

Hey,

I am at Goldman this quarter as an intern. All I can say is that within the firm, the mobility process is very easy and great. If you work within Goldman (i.e. investment research) and want to transfer after a year or two to another division (i.e. IBD), it is simple if you are good.

neutralnuke · 01-24-2008, 05:13 AM

Lazard is an M&A powerhouse! It is considered to be at the forefront for top M&A deals. If you got it, then congratulations to you.

All I have heard is that Lazard is a top feeder for the top PE firms -> so I guess it would also be relatively easy to jump from Lazard M&A to GS or Blackstone M&A.

hope it all works out. Keep us informed of how it goes.

Majayiduke09 · 01-24-2008, 12:27 PM

Lazard M&A is tops. They send a bunch of their analysts to PE at top-tier firms such as Blackstone, KKR, and TPG.

Also Blackstone M&A is not good; it gets blown out by M&A boutique powerhouses, such as Lazard, Gleacher, and Greenhill. Blackstone's bread and butter is PE.

CesareBorgia · 01-26-2008, 01:36 PM

Updates:

-I didn't get a 2nd round at BCG
-Goldman GIR went alright, not great.
-Bain & Co. : In the 1st round, I fumbled the 1st case interview, but completely smoked the 2nd case interview.
-I am awaiting 2nd round invitations/rejections at: Lazard M&A, UBS I-banking, Goldman GIR and Bain & Co.

I also got a 1st round at Bain Capital (specifically Sankaty Advisors), and they told me that it would be a "case interview." What is a case interview for a PE firm like? Is it basically the same idea as a consulting case interview? Do you think I should study up on arcane debt instruments (because Sankaty Advisors is the FI affiliate of Bain Capital, and they invest in, "leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, distressed securities, mezzanine debt, convertible bonds, structured products and equity investments.")

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

neutralnuke · 01-26-2008, 02:21 PM

ummm...check out wall street oasis. I think you could find more help there.

happycosmos · 01-30-2008, 11:44 AM

sankaty is great!! i wish i could work there!!

CesareBorgia · 01-31-2008, 03:26 PM

Yeah...I just had an interview at Sankaty yesterday, and it went fairly well, so hopefully I get to the 2nd round, but it is a total longshot.

Sankaty is by far my first choice; during the interview, I wanted to say, "that's so cool" every 10 seconds, as they explained some aspect or another of the business.