Feeling like I could have done better?
I attend a top target and have a very strong resume, but I ended up settling for a lower tier BB for SA since it was the first offer I received. Can’t help but feel like I fell short of what I could have achieved, and it sucks being on this forum seeing and hearing the things people say about the bank. Yeah yeah, comparison is the theft of joy, my life’s gonna be fine, but it’s just a sucky feeling. Anyone been in a similar situation and have advice?
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Dude, you gotta have some perspective. My brother was in a similar situation: went to a target, decided to go to a satellite office of smaller EB in non-NYC city instead of BB offer he got in NY for various reasons. For a while he regretted his decision, thought a lot of what might have been... fast forward to 5 years later and he could not be happier. He met his wife in this tier 2 city, loves his smaller EB because he loves his group and finds his work interesting and meaningful (and, at least for now, he's pretty sure he makes just as much $ as he would have at top 3 BB). Meanwhile, his buddy from college is at GS/MS/JPM and is absolutely MISERABLE. Yeah, he's got the big brand name, but he's in a toxic group and just hates getting out of bed every day. He's an associate who makes good coin but is desperately trying to get out... I mean it's not like the guy hasn't gotten offers to go elsewhere, but ironically, his exits supposedly aren't as good as you'd think because his group is only deemed "okay."
Anyway, grass is always greener, and just based on my brother's and his buddy's situation, the "better bank in the better city" doesn't always translate to the better experience or more happiness.
To a point this cycle never ends. The low tier BB is jealous of the top BB. The MS/JP is jealous of the GS, but the GS real estate is jealous of the GS TMT. The GS TMT is jealous of PJT RSSG, while he/she is jealous of the KKR analyst who went straight to buy side.
Point is, someone will always be doing better. At this point you either need to accept your position or make an actionable plan to move to a better one. There’s nothing wrong with being at a non-top BB. Perhaps your plan should be to land a top group at your BB so you can place as well as top BBs anyway.
Would definitely try not to read any of the threads talking about lower-tier BBs. Half of the kids shit talking are prospects who have no idea what they’re talking about, just chasing clout and going for top banks only.
Being at a strong low tier BB will get you almost any interview that you could want anyway - at that point it’s more important who you are as a candidate rather than what bank you’re from.
It sounds like you’re at CS (early recruiting, lower tier) so I would just note that CS places very well (relative to its position in the league tables) and from the top groups (FSG, LFO&R) the exits are fantastic and in-line with any top BB.