Your Career at William Blair & Company
If you enjoy working in a dynamic environment that challenges you to think independently and deliver innovative solutions for clients, then William Blair is the ideal place to launch your career.
At the firm, you will work directly with senior professionals who take an interest in your personal growth. Junior bankers are not only given the opportunity to excel in their positions, they are also constantly encouraged to take on greater responsibility. Our lean deal teams allow junior bankers to gain valuable transaction experience on the front lines of investment banking.
The firm seeks talented, hard-working, and dedicated people who have a passion for solving complex problems. You will be constantly encouraged to take on new responsibilities to expand your quantitative and qualitative skill sets. We use a performance-based compensation system that motivates and rewards analysts and associates for going the extra mile in pursuit of our clients’ success.
Our unique culture is built on energy, independence, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Your ideas and talent are developed and nurtured. William Blair’s open-door policy facilitates an interactive learning environment. Each junior banker is paired with a senior mentor who serves as both a resource and an advocate for the analyst/associate’s career development.
Investment Banking Analyst Program. William Blair & Company’s investment banking analyst program provides recent college graduates an opportunity to launch their careers in a fast-paced and dynamic industry. Analysts at William Blair are given broad industry and transaction exposure and work closely with senior bankers who take an active interest in the analyst’s development. William Blair analysts have the opportunity to work on the entire range of investment banking services, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, public and private securities offerings, and restructuring and special situations.
Upon starting in July, analysts from all William Blair offices spend five weeks in Chicago for training. Since we hire graduates with a wide variety of undergraduate degrees, the training program provides a common set of knowledge and skills necessary to perform the quantitative aspects of an analyst’s job. Following the completion of training, each analyst participates in a generalist program for the first six to 12 months and then joins one of William Blair’s industry or product groups. Strong performers will be offered an opportunity as third-year analysts and may build a long-term career at William Blair by advancing on to the associate role. William Blair is a meritocracy, and opportunities will be provided to those who are deserving.
Investment Banking Summer Analyst Program. William Blair & Company offers a 10-week investment banking summer analyst program for college students who have typically completed their junior year. Summer analysts at William Blair are critical supporting members of transaction teams and work closely with full-time analysts, associates, and senior bankers on transactions and business development activities throughout the summer. Strong-performing summer analysts are offered full-time positions commencing the following summer.
Investment Banking Associate Program. William Blair & Company’s investment banking associate program provides MBA graduates and other experienced professionals the platform to build a long-term career as a trusted advisor to our clients. Small deal teams and our focus on high-growth companies give associates the unique opportunity to work directly with top-level client executives and senior bankers. Associates assume a day-to-day leadership role in the transaction process, which typically includes significant client interaction and oversight of the William Blair deal team and development of key deliverables.
Upon starting in August, associates from all William Blair offices spend three weeks in Chicago for training. Associates typically begin as generalists and, after one to three years, move into an industry group. The opportunity to work closely with team members in our offices around the world gives our associates a global perspective. Top performing associates take true ownership of projects and invest great care and commitment to executing client objectives. Quality performers advance to the vice president level, with the longer-term potential opportunity to become a principal of the firm.
Investment Banking Summer Associate Program. William Blair & Company offers a 10-week investment banking summer associate program for high-performing MBA and graduate-school students who are typically going into their final year of study. Summer associates are given high-level responsibilities and entrusted to work directly with clients and senior bankers. Summer associates refine their professional, leadership, and management skills while assisting on projects for our clients. Strong performing summer associates are offered full-time positions commencing the following summer.
