Burn Bridge for Micro-Boutique?? HELP

Hi everyone,

I need some serious advice.

I just got an offer to work at a micro boutique firm yesterday. I recently, however, just moved to NY to do valuations at a MM firm because I couldn't find a banking job. I looked for a whole year and just gave up after a lot of hard work, and this opportunity presented itself through networking. I am not sure what to do, since I haven't even been in this job for 5 months yet, I would have to move back to my hometown, and NY has much bigger and better banks. The micro boutique has pretty good deal flow but the sizes are pretty small (20MM - 70MM) is the sweet spot. Also, if I was to give this offer up, who knows if I would have the opportunity again. After all, I have been looking for a whole year. What would you guys do???

4 Comments
 

Need more info. "Valuations work at a MM firm" is particularly vague. Sounds a lot like banking to me.

What I can tell you at this point is that the small size of the boutique's deals is not a very relevant point. What's most important by far is getting appropriate banking experience (you didn't state your long term goals but I'm assuming given your dedication that your path requires IB-like experience).

 
Most Helpful

I think being in NYC near the "bigger and better" banks is a marginal point. IB is IB for the most part. If the boutique role is a proper IB role, meaning you're doing all the usual stuff (modeling, reading statements etc), then it is valuable experience that even the bigger/better banks will respect.

If this "MM valuations work" is something really close to IB, then you've got a tough call. Because then it's IB in a smaller firm/city vs. quasi-IB in NYC.

But if the job you're in now isn't that close to IB, then I don't think geographic proximity to Wall Street is that big a factor.

 

Repellat praesentium aut tempora ut et quae. Quas sed a natus nisi. Odit est nihil enim voluptate corporis mollitia vel. Quisquam modi voluptatem aspernatur qui mollitia voluptatem.

Magni natus ab dolor ipsa ex dolore. Accusamus quo fugiat nesciunt.

Atque dolore ducimus aut nisi provident quibusdam. Soluta cupiditate similique quas eveniet facere ipsa. Sunt iure autem optio voluptates officiis autem laudantium. Nesciunt deserunt placeat rerum voluptatibus odio voluptatem. Id cumque itaque alias tempore numquam. Laudantium pariatur excepturi culpa ut voluptatum.

Quos quisquam necessitatibus eveniet est tenetur qui impedit. Ea nihil enim porro autem. Aliquid ut nemo quas ex magnam omnis doloremque. Cupiditate voluptatibus voluptate consectetur et aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”