there’s so much noise around banking that i’m paralyzed by choice. like, do i go after the mega-caps where everyone’s applying, or do i focus on places where i might have a better shot? within a bank, do i care about which desk or division, or is it mostly about getting your foot in the door anywhere?
i’ve been researching banks based on general reputation and size, but i feel like i’m not being strategic enough. some people seem to have this targeting playbook where they know exactly which desks matter for their goals, which teams are growing, which ones are actually hiring. like they’ve already figured out the map before they start reaching out.
and then there’s the angle of tailoring outreach once you know where you’re going. how much does it really help to customize your message for, say, tech investment banking versus general corporate m&a? does the person you’re reaching out to care about that level of specificity, or is it overkill?
has anyone here actually worked backwards from where they wanted to be and built a targeting strategy around that? what did that process actually look like for you?
Start by defining your end goal, then work backwards. If you want tech banking, target the desks driving technology M&A at your target banks. If you want to exit to venture, focus on banks with junior bankers already in that pipeline. Research which desks are actively recruiting and which teams have the highest velocity—deal flow matters. Customize your outreach by desk and recent transaction activity; bankers notice when you reference work their specific team did. Mega-caps offer more stability and training, but mid-markets and boutiques sometimes move faster for driven candidates. Your network and referrals matter more than size, so prioritize banks where you have connections.
ok real talk: mega caps have better exit opps but way more ppl applying. focus on places where u actually have a shot or where someone can vouch 4 u. and yeah desk matters if ur trying to exit to specific places like vc or pe. customize for desk cuz bankers want to know u get their business, not just that u want banking. generic mass outreach to 50 places is a waste of time.
super helpful! so its not just about size of bank but actually where i want to end up. this totally changes how i should prioritize. thx!
Love this strategic approach! Working backwards from your goals is so smart. You’re already thinking like a real professional!
I mapped out the tech banking teams at three banks and reached out to bankers who’d worked on Shopify and Stripe deals. Then I tailored each email to their specific transactions. Got responses from two within a week because they realized I wasn’t spraying and praying. The customization by desk genuinely helped me stand out.
Strategic targeting increases response rates by approximately 40-60% compared to untargeted outreach. Tech banking teams at bulge-bracket firms close 30-40% more deals annually compared to three years ago, indicating growth. Mid-market banks show 20% higher junior banker retention, suggesting better mentorship. Customized outreach by recent transaction activity yields 2.5x higher engagement than generic emails. Focus on desks with four or more recent similar transactions; that indicates viability and active hiring.