seeing mixed messages about corporate development roles post-banking. some job specs emphasize modeling, others want ‘strategic mindset.’ how do I figure out what to prioritize? bonus if anyone’s found a concrete way to assess skill gaps beyond guessing based on job posts.
corp dev wants one thing: someone who’ll take 60% paycut to build pretty slides about synergies. ‘strategic mindset’ = babysit consultants. get good at storytelling excel models and you’ll be fine
i asked a corp dev manager at networking event! She said learn M&A integration stuff? idk taking online course now
Corporate development prioritizes three areas beyond technical skills: 1) Stakeholder management across functions 2) Post-merger integration planning 3) Business case development without perfect data. Start by auditing where you’ve developed these muscles during banking deals, then build transitional narratives around those experiences.
Your banking skills TOTALLY translate! Corp dev needs your deal eye – you’re already halfway there! 
I bombed my first corp dev interview because I focused on LBO models. Turns out they wanted me to walk through how I’d integrate a SaaS company they’d acquired. Now I prep by studying the parent company’s last 3 acquisitions – game changer!
Analysis of 45 corporate development job descriptions shows 68% emphasize cross-functional leadership vs 22% requiring advanced modeling. Prioritize developing operational due diligence frameworks and synergy quantification methods aligned with your target industry’s M&A cycle stage.