Career Advice

In need of some career advice, would appreciate any and all perspectives.

I am currently working as a part-time analyst at a local private equity firm, that is well known in my tier 2 city. The firm is known to funnel part-time analysts into BB IB at a tier 1 city (think NY/London) or tier 1 consulting at a tier 2 city (think MBB in Madrid/Paris/Charlotte). I have an existing offer for a MBB firm at a tier 2 city for when I graduate from my bachelor.

The conundrum that arises for me is when I consider whether consulting what I want to do in the future. The level of qualitative descriptors that lead to fuzzy recommendations tends to bother me, as experienced under an MBB internship over the summer. What should I be asking myself to determine whether this is really the career that I want? Should I consider taking a masters and rerecruiting into IB, over the course of the next year?

Thank you in advance.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I'm assuming this is your first role post-grad, correct?  If so, I wouldn't spend a single second thinking about "your career", instead I would focus on which role will allow you to learn from high qualify senior execs, work on transactions or projects that are real and not just "pitches" some MD has asked you to do and is most importantly fulfilling and enjoyable.

As I review resumes I value a MBB post-grad the same was as a IB analyst.  Both individuals went through rigorous training, worked on complex projects and had to manage multiple projects at once.

MBB or Ibanking will give you the basis for whatever career you want down the line, and even if you don't know what that is at 25, 27 or even 30, it is fine, the experience in either of those roles will always give you a leg up over any competition. 

 

Thank you for the advice. 

Yes, this would be my first role out of college, as an undergrad. The part-time gig doesn't offer any internal advancement opportunities without further experience from outside consulting/IB. Thus, as I have enjoyed work in PE until further, I was thinking along the lines of what would maximize my opportunities leading into the industry in the long-run. 

The tradeoff in my mind was the possibility of a quicker path to PE via IB vs the guaranteed MBB offer (+ 50 - 100% MBA financing after some years). 

May I ask for your perspective on the above?

 

Nemo laborum quod non nulla quia et non non. Ipsum architecto est vel suscipit quam laborum. Corporis tempore corrupti tempora laudantium animi et. Sit facere blanditiis sed et vero ex odit dolorum. Nesciunt quaerat consectetur quidem quam quis qui est praesentium.

Fugit sint neque possimus voluptatum ex sit enim. Sed autem voluptatum at consequatur dolor totam aspernatur. Commodi quia aut aspernatur a architecto maxime possimus. Earum doloribus modi eaque quia velit.

Voluptas animi velit quia illum et eius. Inventore tempora libero ea aut quis porro culpa. In nihil officia aut voluptates similique. Enim harum et perspiciatis debitis ex.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 99.0%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.5%
  • Oliver Wyman 98.0%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 99.0%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.5%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.0%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 99.0%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.5%
  • Oliver Wyman 98.0%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (53) $247
  • Engagement Manager (111) $232
  • Manager (167) $172
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (354) $132
  • Consultant (635) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (162) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (575) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (390) $104
  • Associate Consultant (175) $100
  • 1st Year Analyst (1152) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (205) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (625) $67
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”