Lateral to general corporate position Forum

[Anonymous User]

Junior in a niche transactional group and am interested in lateraling into a position for a more general corporate practice (M&A, capital markets, etc). Does anybody know how to go about doing this or if any firms would be open to taking someone like this?

[Anonymous User]

1. Fine tune your story for why you want to leave your niche practice and start a broader one. But still pick some kind of specialty if you can; applying for an M&A job is easier than applying to do everything under the corporate sun.

2. Grades/school will still matter quite a bit, so prepare the resume and transcript materials.

3. Use a headhunter.

4. Before the headhunter, talk to any friends/people you've met at firms who do what you're looking to do so you can sound intelligent in your application about the specific firm.

[Anonymous User]

1. Fine tune your story for why you want to leave your niche practice and start a broader one. But still pick some kind of specialty if you can; applying for an M&A job is easier than applying to do everything under the corporate sun.

2. Grades/school will still matter quite a bit, so prepare the resume and transcript materials.

3. Use a headhunter.

4. Before the headhunter, talk to any friends/people you've met at firms who do what you're looking to do so you can sound intelligent in your application about the specific firm.

Differ anon than above, also a junior (finishing my second year) in a niche corporate field at a V10. I expect to be getting some minor M&A experience in the next few months, and am looking to lateral around summer/September.

Not to get into specifics regarding grades, but would it be ok to leave my GPA off the resume, and do they focus a lot on the transcript? Additionally, about how long does the lateral timeline take, and are there specific months that are better than others? Also interested in hearing if COVID has affected either of these facts at all.

Thanks all

[Hakki]

I know you've specifically mentioned general corporate, but if you'd be OK with an exec comp and benefits-focused (transactional) job, I think your chances skyrocket.

Those groups always need people and your background doing diligence on L&E issues feeds directly into it. The benefits group at my old firm had someone who'd previously done L&E employment for four-ish years.

[Anonymous User]

This is the perfect time to go from a niche to general transactional as the market for corporate associates is insane right now. I got an email this morning “Certain firms including Goodwin, Gunderson, Wilmer, and Cooley, are not requiring a resume to set up an informational call with a hiring partner” which should tell you all you need to know.

[turbotong]

PM me for an opportunity.

[Anonymous User]

This is the perfect time to go from a niche to general transactional as the market for corporate associates is insane right now. I got an email this morning “Certain firms including Goodwin, Gunderson, Wilmer, and Cooley, are not requiring a resume to set up an informational call with a hiring partner” which should tell you all you need to know.

At one of those firms mentioned here and can confirm hiring is crazy hot right now. Any tech-facing practice in corporate is on fire. Happy to chat if folks are curious about learning more -- there's availability literally across every single office at all level of seniority.

[Anonymous User]

This is the perfect time to go from a niche to general transactional as the market for corporate associates is insane right now. I got an email this morning “Certain firms including Goodwin, Gunderson, Wilmer, and Cooley, are not requiring a resume to set up an informational call with a hiring partner” which should tell you all you need to know.

Although I agree with the general message, I highly doubt those selective firms would waste a partner’s time discussing a job with someone who doesn’t meet their hiring standards. I’m assuming you probably meet whatever hiring floor these firms have, but OP may not.

I responded to one of those emails for a Kirkland post (“partner setting up calls with anyone interested”), and the recruiter ghosted me. I ended up at a great firm, but it goes to show the lengths recruiters will go for that money.

[Anonymous User]

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