Back office BB vs boutique front

If my goal is to eventually land a PE/HF/VC gig (after an MBA), which of the 2 is better (in terms of exit ops and transferable skills):

1) Analyst at top BB firm doing operations/BO work (reconciling, settlement, P&I, 3rd party clearing, etc)
2) Analyst at boutique investment bank (on-site due diligence, modeling (the financial kind), working with deal structuring team, etc)

obviously there are a lot of other factors, but overall, which of these would lead to better b-school and pe/hf prospects??

 
Best Response

Just to expand on what has been said so far, you'll find once you actually get into the industry that a BB name doesn't carry you far if you are in BO. The average joe probably can't tell the difference but industry guys know that BO gigs anywhere aren't very good. A boutique can actually be a great experience as a young guy because there are usually very few analysts at small shops so you basically end up doing all of the grunt work for the firm, and get way more responsibility than you would at a BB. The only catch is you have to try and get into a boutique with good deal flow and momentum.

 
lil_barac:
modeling (the financial kind),

lol.

If not for the quotes, I'd have been completely confused.

And btw OP, of course you should take the boutique. Is this even an issue?

Someone mentioned deal flow; even if there was weak deal flow, wouldn't you still choose the boutique over the BB BO?

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 

You networked your ass off for that spot and, by the tone of your post, its obvious that's the spot you would prefer. Take that spot and make it your bitch. Worry about the visa when the time comes, I think you're putting the cart in front of the horse. If you give that boutique spot everything you have and continue to network and get your name out there, you should be fine when the time comes.

 

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