A middle-office job at a Tier1 firm or strategy consulting at a Tier2 firm?

Hi people!

I'd like to receive some suggestions from you because I really can't decide.

I have an offer from a Tier1 IB for middle office (risk management) but the office is in Budapest. Then I have another offer for strategy consulting (M&A) in a Tier 3 firm in Milan.

I like both jobs and I'd like to work in hedge funds/trading (if choice 1) but also in PE/VC (if choice 2). I know salaries differ a lot, but that's not a problem to me. What's important to me is which one will more likely (and faster) allow me to get into hf/trading/PE/VC. What do you think would be a better choice? What's better in terms of exit-opportunities?

Thank you!

3 Comments
 
 
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I would say that the M&A consulting role at the "Tier 3" firm would position you better for an investing role within PE/VC. At least in the US, it's not uncommon to see candidates break in to private equity/other investing roles from consulting firms like Oliver Wyman or EY-Parthenon where they were able to get a lot of experience working on PE DDs.

So if you're able to get some experience working with sponsors or investors doing due diligence work, it would better lend itself to making that transition than working in a non-client facing role at a slightly more prestigious consulting firm.

 

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