Group Culture VS Strength

Copy pasting from earlier post b/c think it directly answers your question:

WSO loves to tell you to chase the top groups, and honestly, I think that’s one of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing their placement. Not because top groups don’t have good exits (they do), but because people completely misunderstand why those exits happen.

The reality is, the difference in outcomes between “top” and “non-top” groups often has more to do with who joins them than the groups themselves. The kids gunning for the M&A or the top coverage group at every BB tend to be the same ones who are networking nonstop, prepping months in advance, and relentlessly chasing PE. If you dropped those same people into a middle-of-the-pack coverage group, they’d probably still land great exits because the headhunter emails still come, and the process is largely candidate-driven.

What you do get in a top group is more deal reps. However, it often comes with longer hours, more pressure, and a harder culture. And again, that’s part of the self-selection loop; people who want that intensity seek it out. But if you're someone who values having a life outside of work and genuinely enjoying your team, that trade-off might not be worth it.

I chose to go to a group with great culture/people I enjoyed being around (IMO) and slightly more reasonable hours. I liked the people, liked the industry, and was still exited to a multi-billion-dollar fund. No regrets. The marginal prestige gain of grinding yourself into the ground in a hyper-competitive group just wasn’t worth it for me, and honestly, it isn’t for most people if they’re being honest about their goals.

Everyone’s priorities are different, but don’t blindly follow the herd. Culture fit, hours, and interest in the work do matter, and in the long run, they’ll probably make a bigger difference in your performance and happiness than a few extra logos on your resume.