Best place to start career BB / PE / SWF ?

Hey everyone,

Holding 3 offers rn:
- LMM PE ~ 1B AUM in MENA
- SWF in MENA
- Mid BB S&T in LDN

For my background, I’m at target in UK originally from MENA speak 5 languages fluently including arabic, english and 3 EU ones, and have big network in ME. All 3 offers are for entry level like 1st yr analyst.

I guess most important things for me are:
- Work/life balance
- Flexibility (change career/open own fund)
- Career growth (promotions etc)
- Comp (keep in mind taxes)

Do please lmk what you think and what you would do in my place.

13 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Congrats on getting 3 great offers, particularly in this market. Based on the information you provided, it's not straight forward, as I think 2 additional factors to consider are:

(1) Where do you want to live - apart from the tax situation which you mentioned, there is also a consideration of lifestyle and location. If it's London, then the BB S&T role is a no-brainer. I've seen far more people move from London to MENA vs. vice-versa so this could give you maximum flexibility in terms of being in London for your formative years before returning to MENA later on in life

(2) What do you want to do long-term - appreciate you mentioned career flexibility and growth, but this all depends on what you aspire to do long term. If you want to focus on private markets with potential to move to HF, then the PE or SWF (assuming this is for a private markets / direct investing role) makes more sense vs. S&T. If public markets is your main focus, then S&T probably makes most sense

 

Thank you very much !!! hadn't seen it like that.

Personally, I would say lifestyle etc isn't that major for me. I have lived and have friends and family in both. Although weather taxes etc are better in MENA, only benefit of LDN is potential applying for citizenship later on. 

Secondly, long term plans are:

- Option 1: Goose Farmer XD

- Option 2: Opening up own PE shop in home country

- Option 3: Going into politics / Central Bank in home country

 

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