BB or Euro Bank

Have 2 offers, both offers are very similar: at a large bank on warehouse lending team, lending to Private Credit firms, CLO shops, other credit-related products. 

  • Offer 1: Top 4 BB bank. All in comp ~190k, base 145k. 5 days a week in office. Environment seems intense. Contract role, renews yearly at manager's discretion, not great benefits with recruitment firm
  • Offer 2: Large European bank. All in comp ~160k, base 125k. 2 days a week in office. Environment seems much more relaxed. Fully employed with the bank, great benefits

Would I be crazy to take offer 2? ~30k pay cut for WFH and better job security/benefits? I don’t have any need to WFH(no kids/pets), but I do love to travel/workout/get things done during the day. 

Or should I suck it up and take offer 1 for the money, prestige, and better exit opps?

_________________________________________________________________________________________

What would you do? And why? Would love to hear about all of your related insights/experiences, especially if you/someone you know went through a similar situation.

Also, does anyone have experience being a contract employee at a BB? Or know someone who does? Wondering if contract employees get pushed around more because they know you have to say yes to everything, or risk contract not getting renewed.

Any opinions/insights help. Thanks in advance.

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

First of all, congrats for having two very impressive offers. I think this depends from what you truly want, which we don't fully know. Suppose your goal is prestige and experience to then break into buy-side PC (Apollo/Bain/Ares) or simply to save as much as possible for future expenses (house, family/children) then perhaps the BB is a better choice. If you're in a position where the £30k difference won't make much of a difference and, like you said, you give importance to freedom in your day-to-day then definitely go with the European firm, especially given the culture difference.

Either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy both experiences, best of luck!

 

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