Choosing An Offer

So lets say you have two offers:

  1. top 5 elite boutique regional office, tmt m&a, 10-15 bankers in that office, large trophy deals (1b >)

  2. reputable global MM, generalist, mostly sell side m&a, huge range in deal size, great deal flow, 50 bankers in that office

you like the people at the MM more. the ones at the elite boutique seem like douche-bags and even though exit ops are probably better, your not sure what to do. Main question is:

do you suck it up and go with ppl you didn't enjoy meeting in the interview? or do you go with the down to earth guys that you hung out with in college...

what would you guys do?

13 Comments
 

From my experience, there is no substitute for working with people you like. You will still get good experience at the MM, and as an analyst you should try to work with the less douche bags. MM all the way.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Best Response

I say it definitely depends on the people, but agree with the above comment and make sure you really dislike the people. I think it would be better to work at a place like lazard with assholes than a place like cowen and company or twp or stifel I guess I should say. You could make a case for going to a place like Jefferies, Blair or Baird over an elite boutique if you really disliked the people at the latter. If it is a lower end MM firm, make sure they have pretty solid deal flow and you will have a good analyst experience. You don't want to be stuck at a firm where you will be doing nothing but pitching and the occasional co-managed IPO and look back and regret your decision. Good luck.

 

Definitely go with the people you like. The work in this industry isn't glamourous at the junior levels, and if you don't like to hang out with your co-workers, you will want to jab darts in your eyes three months into the job.

Work your ass off and prove yourself, get good rec's from your MD's and you will find exit opps.

That being said, shortmyCDO makes a good point, if the two are close in reputation, go where you like the people. If there is a HUGE gap, think about sucking it up and learning to like the people.

 

I completely agree that you should go nowhere where you do not like the people. However, I am not sure if the people you like most during interviews are going to be the same you like working with the most.

 
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