Help with Offer Decision

Hey guys,

I am currently a 1st year analyst at a solid M&A boutique in NYC and have recently recieved two very different offers that I need help deciding between.

Offer 1: Lateral position to a top product group at a BB that is a top player in this particular space (very applicable experience to PE recruiting). Would come in as a 2nd year with the expectation that I would stay for a third.

Offer 2: MM PE job at a solid fund (latest fund size ~800mm) to start summer 2012.

Background: Graduate of top 3 target (HYP).

I hate to pass up a for sure PE job, but my thinking is that I could leverage my experience at the BB and possibly land a job at a megafund or a more reputable PE shop. Also, I would ultimately like to go to business school and think having a blue-chip name on my resume would be advantageous. However, if I were to go the lateral route, I would have to do one more year in banking (not adverse to this), and I would be passing up a for sure buyside opportunity.

Hence, my dillema...

Would appreciate any advice on what I should do here (don't have much time to decide).

Thanks in advance.

10 Comments
 
stupidquestionsHYP are not the top 3 targets, it is 1. Wharton 2. Harvard 3. Princeton, just saying.

holy shit who cares. are we really gonna debate yale vs princeton

 
firefighter
stupidquestionsHYP are not the top 3 targets, it is 1. Wharton 2. Harvard 3. Princeton, just saying.

holy shit who cares. are we really gonna debate yale vs princeton

ya for real..the only thing stupider than this guys questions are his answers.

 

In a long-term perspective, I think the BB is the wiser route. You have brand name presence on your resume that will be nicely transferable to any level of PE as well as for your eventual MBA.

You're going to have to do another year in IB so you might as well do it at a BB.

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
 
jmayhemIn a long-term perspective, I think the BB is the wiser route. You have brand name presence on your resume that will be nicely transferable to any level of PE as well as for your eventual MBA.

You're going to have to do another year in IB so you might as well do it at a BB.

Agreed. Go with the BB. Will allow for more attractive opportunities later on, PE or elsewhere.

 
J.May I ask how you went about going for laterals? Were they from friends of yours that you graduated with or headhunters?

Lateral opportunity was found through some friends at the bank.

 
frank_reynoldswhat are your long term goals? motivations behind wanting to go to business school?

Thanks for the advice so far guys. Regarding b-school, I have always been a big proponent of education - not so much for the practical knowledge one garners through the process, but rather from the standpoint of building a pedigree and developing network. Also, I think it would be a much needed break from the grind for me and a time in which I can develop and focus on some of my other intellectual pursuits.

Not 100% sure on the long term goals, but ideally I would like to be in a leadership position at a large financial institution.

 

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