Accept CS early offer or roll the dice?
Some background: female, HYP, sophomore internship in PWM at top 3 BB. Long-term plan right now is to exit to PE. Received an exploding offer from Credit Suisse for 2021 SA and through networking hoping I could place into Sponsors group there which I heard is great for PE exits. Do I bite the bullet now and accept the offer (& relax for the next few months) or roll the dice for either an internal transfer to IB at my BB this summer and/or recruit for top BBs + Lazard, Centerview etc. Based on feedback I’ve received I’m pretty confident I could score an offer from at least one of the above, but this would require turning down the CS offer and a whole lot more interviews/recruiting (have had a stressful spring so part of me kind of wants to be done). So my question is- is the risk/reward worth it? Are the PE exit opps at top groups for GS/MS really that much better than CS Sponsors (which I’ve heard is a phenomenal group)? What would you do in my place? I am torn because I really enjoyed what I learned about CS and their culture, but also think I have a strong chance of internal transfer at my current BB after this summer.
wait it out it’ll be worth it
Thanks
Accept the offer, CS sponsors beats out lesser groups at "top" BBs. Trust me, I've seen turning something like this down go very very wrong.
I'd take the CS offer. Although keep in mind that the majority of incoming interns put Sponsors as their top choice, so it is extremely hard to get from a pure numbers standpoint. CS Sponsors is one of the top groups on the street, so PE exits are not an issue.
If you really want to be at a GS/MS for the prestige factor, try to lateral for FT recruiting. If you have a strong network at those firms, it will be easier to move especially with HYP & BB SA on your resume. The move would make sense since CS has been underperforming as of late, and the future is a bit more blurry for the bank.
If you like the culture at CS, it's a no brainer for me. I think culture is important beyond lifestyle reasons, as being in the best environment for your personal development is more important than a sweatshop that could care less about you.
Thanks
If you have a decent network within Sponsors, then you're in great shape. If somehow you don't end up in Sponsors, the M&A group is also decent for exits (based on my convos). From my understanding, internal transfer is extremely hard and the timelines should be somewhat in line with the general application pool. That said, it wouldn't hurt to ask the recruiter. Just be respectful.
I wouldn't give up the CS offer for a possibility for a top BB, but I'm just a risk-adverse person.
I would take the offer and try for Sponsors or LFO&R. It may seem like there's a good chance you'll get an offer elsewhere but you have to remember that there are absolutely no guarantees in this process (even from HYP).
Given your HYP background it won't be hard for you to get MF looks from one those groups, or even from less prestigious groups at CS.
If you really want to land top 3 BB/EB, I would consider signing CS but staying open to a renege situation if things work out elsewhere. I'm not advising this, but people do it. Something to think about.
Thanks for the advice. Reneging is out of the equation for me - so this decision is final
I personally hate CS. I don’t like the culture, and all of my school’s alumni at the office are full of themselves. Because of this, I purposely recruited to CS satellite offices instead.
That being said, different circumstances of course, but if I had an offer from CS right now then I’d take it immediately. I actually really like LAZ and have some great friends there, so I’d personally be a little sad doing it, but you can’t go wrong with picking CS if you’re looking for exits. They will place as well as LAZ out of certain groups, and its more about your candidate profile than it is about 2 bank names for exits.
That being said, I’d also work to get a return offer at CS and leverage the crap out of it to get a LAZ full-time offer. I like Lazard THAT MUCH haha. Try CS, get a good group, land a return offer while networking with tons of different bankers in tons of different banks, decide what’s right for you (if you like the culture and everything). If you hate the culture then leave, but if you have a good group and like working there then there’s no reason to ever doubt your decision again.
Would you see CS Sponsors as lesser than the average group at GS/MS? I sure wouldn't, but keep in mind you'll definitely have some feelings of "what could have been" if you sign now and don't recruit later.
If you're confident enough you can get another offer and think that the "what could have been" will haunt you, think about declining CS. Just remember if you roll the dice and fail it will sting even more than the "what could have been".
Also, I'm sure you've thought about this but try to accelerate other processes since you're holding a CS offer.
edited to remove info
delete
I go to a worse ivy and my friend is a white dude so I agree it's not the same, but there are plenty of great candidates (yes, even women from harvard) that don't land a job at GS/JPM/MS. There are really only a handful of banks that are 'better' than CS, and all are insanely competitive.
Thanks!
Thanks for all your input... I think I've come to a decision.
CS Sponsors is one of the best groups for reaching your goal so to turn it down seems like taking on risk for little if any reward.
Also you’ve given enough info to be ID’d so recommend deleting or changing details
sign CS and lateral if you dont get into sponsors, being female is not a guarantee for a top offer because a lot comes down to luck, competition, how your interviewers were feeling that day
CS Sponsors is such a UVA-heavy group just fyi
delete
Not a snide remark. Have friends at UVA (including a friend in CS Sponsors) who say that the group is really UVA-heavy because one of the group heads is an alum.
Just providing some more background on the group dynamic because OP is gunning for it.
edit: oh you are OP haha
I'd take the cs offer. It is still a fantastic firm. Worst case scenario is that you get into a group that you don't like and recruit full time.
Email your BB recruiter and ask if they can expedite your recruiting process. If yes, you can try get that offer now. If no, tell them you can't turn down an assured opportunity and say you'd be interested in keeping in touch for full time recruiting after the summer. If you don't get FS, try get that offer then.
Tbh as a HYP female with I would assume polished interviewing skills and good GPA you will get anywhere you want to go, I would wait.
Alias voluptatibus nihil itaque. Quia voluptate suscipit dolores labore. Odit ut debitis tenetur.
Velit sed consequatur consectetur asperiores ut. Sit illum possimus est tenetur quia asperiores. Et aut iusto perferendis quidem similique est harum. Nihil dolorum aut id commodi commodi libero atque consequatur.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Ullam iste ab molestiae illum rem enim. Impedit adipisci odit recusandae sapiente magni. Suscipit quis rerum dolore. Odit voluptatum voluptate consectetur non provident ducimus et laudantium. Rem eligendi inventore corrupti possimus officia asperiores. Commodi vel magnam est ad officia quia quia. Aliquid ea ut odio nemo.
Et assumenda eaque consequuntur ipsa similique nulla sunt nihil. Nesciunt consequatur dicta placeat mollitia debitis in. Enim reiciendis unde atque eveniet amet. Ipsa magni dolorem sequi sit et sed voluptates.
Officiis reiciendis dolores et natus incidunt. Tenetur quia deleniti ut illo voluptatibus magni voluptatum. Nulla necessitatibus reprehenderit animi facere non quo natus. Sed repellendus minus aut laborum numquam vel.