by meridith dennes | Apr 24, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
A VP2 in FIG at a bulge bracket calls me. Forty billion in deal volume on his sheet. Stacked resume. Top school, top group, top bank. He wants to move to generalist M&A at a peer shop. He can’t get a callback. Not from the banks. Not from the headhunters who... 
by meridith dennes | Apr 21, 2026 | Compensation Trends, Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Every year, M&A bankers at every level — analysts, associates, VPs, Directors, MDs — find out their number, see it is smaller than they expected, and spend the next forty-eight hours refreshing the anonymous banking forums, texting a peer at a competitor for... 
by meridith dennes | Apr 11, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
This guide covers the full landscape of investment banking offer negotiation — when to engage, what can actually move, how to read your leverage, and what the realistic risks look like. The Single Most Important Principle Negotiation is not automatic or universal.... 
by meridith dennes | Apr 9, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Every banker, at some point in their career, will need to exit a process or decline an offer. It is one of the most routine yet most poorly handled moments in professional life. Done well, it preserves a relationship that may matter significantly later in your career.... 
by meridith dennes | Mar 21, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Let's be clear about something upfront: VPs are among the most desirable lateral hires in investment banking. VP1s and VP2s move constantly and with relative ease. They're senior enough to hit the ground running, junior enough to develop, and priced at a level where... 
by meridith dennes | Feb 28, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Part 2 of “Calling Your Bluff” Series In our last post, we talked about the art of the humble flex—those subtle signals that separate actual top performers from people who just claim to be in the “top bucket.” But here’s the thing: even...