Jefferies sits on the middle-market list in a lot of older guides, including mine. I don't think that's right any more. Over the last decade or so it's grown into one of the biggest independent investment banks, and on plenty of deals it now competes directly with the bulge brackets, especially in the US and in leveraged finance.
Why that matters for you
- Bulge bracket-style deals, smaller teams. Analysts often get more responsibility than at a much bigger bank.
- A culture people describe as entrepreneurial and fast. Talk to people there and form your own view.
- Big in London, with a full summer analyst programme.
What the CV needs
Treat it like a bulge bracket application: predicted grade, finance experience with real numbers, a clear interest in markets and deals, leadership with a result. Leveraged finance experience, or genuine interest in it, helps here more than at most banks.
Before: Supported the team on several financing transactions
After: Built the debt schedule for a £140m leveraged buyout of a UK software business, modelling three repayment cases