L.E.K. vs. OW

I recently got offers from both L.E.K. and OW for their Chicago offices. 

I want to decide based on a few factors:

1. Exit-Opps with a slight emphasis on opportunities in PE

2. WLB

3. Overall prestige of the firms

4. Pay, OW seems to be slightly higher for this one

9 Comments
 

most ow people don't want to go into buyside, those who do place pretty well. i urge you to look at linkedin and the investment teams of PE firms (check MM-UMM fin websites) - not wso.But this is why you may see more Lek people in buy side - but again quantity of positions in the buyside world is not directly correlated to the quality of positions landed.Either way, i don't think OW is MUCH better in quality of pe exits (not material enough to make you decide between the two).Hours will be similar probably - especially if you do CDDs in OW which is the majority of work at lek.You will def have more optionally in types of industries to work in at Ow than at lek.Exit opps will prob be more diverse at Ow than lek as well (this is correlated to the former point).prestige - prob OW, but not material difference. let's just say the same.I would look at growth trajectories of both firms instead of prestige.

im pretty sure lek pays well also tho? so there can’t be much difference between ow and lek in pay

 

lek may have more instances of PE exit ops, but not better (i.e. quality).

For those who want to exit into buyside, OW does well. From vc->umm funds (not really mega funds).

Do you have any idea of the actual hour differences between the 2 at all?

 

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