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Free Banker BlueprintDefinition of Corporate Development: Corporate Development is the division of a large company that focuses on acquisitions and divestitures, including deal sourcing and execution, as well as joint venture (JV) deals and partnerships. They also spend time doing competitive research and determining which markets their companies should enter. Much of the work is similar to buy-side M&A deals at an investment bank, but the key difference is that you work at one single company and contribute to that company’s growth over the long term.
Corporate development (Corp Dev or CD) teams are looking for candidates who:
In practice, this means that Corp Dev teams prefer to hire investment bankers who have worked in relevant industry groups.
It’s rare to break into Corporate Development just out of undergrad, although it can be done (refer to the linked article).
Check out our in-depth article on Corporate Development Recruiting for more details of how to ace your interviews and get hired.
An “average day” in corporate development varies a lot and depends on:
A typical “Day In The LIfe” includes the following, which you can read about in more depth in our full Corporate Development Careers article:
Corp Dev roles vary widely, making exact salary comparisons difficult between job titles difficult. Here are some compensation ranges based on what you might earn at a large company in a major financial center:
Most Corporate Development professionals will enter the industry via Investment Banking. A strong grasp of financial modeling and quantitative analysis is important for Corp Dev roles, although strong interpersonal and “Deal Making” skills may also be required – especially in more senior positions.
Some of the most relevant courses offered by Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street include: