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.

Comments (3)

Most Helpful
2mo 
SportsVC, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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. 

2mo 
MonkeConsult, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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?

  • 1
2mo 
SOFRsoGood, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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