BB internship vs. Boutique full-time

Hi Guys,

Wondering about your opinions: should I choose a bulge bracket internship or a full-time (permanent) position of a top 20 boutique? Positions are IBD, M&A advisory. Final goal would be PE.

Thanks

18 Comments
 

Exactly. You can always lateral at a later point or go into PE.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 
Best Response

"Top-20 boutique" is an oxymoron. "Boutique" is how you sanitize "upstart" or "lower-middle market" in banking parlance. There may be worthwhile exceptions to be made for what is actually a boutique by the more standard definition - i.e., a specialist practice (Qatalyst and Leerink Swann come to mind). But a small firm serving local business in Nashville isn't be in the top 20 of anything that people bother to rank.. not to say that they don't do good work or make good money, because I'm sure some do.

Otherwise, you're either referring to a true "elite" independent M&A advisory firm (e.g. Evercore), or a strong middle-market firm (e.g. William Blair).

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 
Jonathan99Haha I guess I was ambiguous, I meant that the firm is one of the top 20 investment banks in the US, based on value of deals (mergermarket)

Thanks for the comments, so I guess full time it is!

Then you're talking about Evercore, Centerivew, Lazard, Rothschild, or Greenhill? Take the offer.

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 
BTbanker^ Also, Moelis, Perella Weinberg, Baird, Harris Williams, Oppenheimer, Edgeview, and Houlihan Lokey.

These names are not in the current Mergermarket Top-20 North American M&A Advisers (Value) league tables. OP specifically referenced that source.

And if you're talking about top or elite boutiques, I would cut all but Perella Weinberg from your list. The others are top middle-market firms. If we're splitting hairs, that is. All are strong firms.

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 
Sandhurst
BTbanker^ Also, Moelis, Perella Weinberg, Baird, Harris Williams, Oppenheimer, Edgeview, and Houlihan Lokey.

These names are not in the current Mergermarket Top-20 North American M&A Advisers (Value) league tables. OP specifically referenced that source.

And if you're talking about top or elite boutiques, I would cut all but Perella Weinberg from your list. The others are top middle-market firms. If we're splitting hairs, that is. All are strong firms.

lol, I honestly can't tell the difference.
 

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