Investment Banking vs. MBB for Big Tech/Startups
I'm currently holding an offer from MS Menlo Tech. I have 0 interest in private equity or even Venture Capital, and I'm looking to either exit into big tech (perhaps some kind of strategy/product type role, not Corp Dev) or into a startup. I have a computer science degree, so I am graduating with a technical background.
Considering this situation, would a background in MBB consulting be more beneficial for reaching these goals? I attend an Ivy target school and FT recruiting for MBB starts in the fall, but I need to make a decision soon as to whether to prepare for these interviews. I know MBB is more operationally oriented, but MS Tech is exclusively focused on the industry that I'm interested in and seems to have the name recognition within tech circles, so I'm having some trouble making a decision. Any help would be really appreciated.
For product mgmt I would say consulting, simply because product management is essentially setting up the strategy of a product and coordinating with SWE/designers, both of which are skills developed in consulting
I would say MBB in the SF/Bay Area will also be mostly tech work
You also have to consider the possibility that if you give up MS Menlo (a top top tier tech IB offer) you can be totally fucked if MBB doesn't work out. I know you're at a target school and probably have a great resume but it's a huge gamble. Plus, tons and tons of Tech IB analysts go to big tech and startup corp dev roles anyway.
Either MS menlo or MBB would you prepare you exceptionally well for those big tech roles with a slight advantage to consulting given the nature of the job. If I was in this situation I would choose MS Menlo on the premise that the risk of denying my MS Menlo offer and striking out at MBB is greater than the reward of marginally increasing my odds to land a big tech role
MS Menlo (and really any of the top tech groups) can definitely put you in the running for CorpStrat/BizOps, BizDev or Product roles in Tech. Just make sure you really tap into your school and firm's network in the area to get warm leads on top of any other HH or direct recruiting strategies.
Definitely apply to the rotational APM programs that hire experienced recent grads (off the top of my head I know FB, LinkedIn and Google are all willing to hire recent grads with top backgrounds).
Having a CS degree also helps a ton for signalling your "nerd street cred" which is typically a big stumbling block for people gunning for Product roles. By having one you can check the "I understand what the SWEs are saying" box more easily than someone wthout a rigorous/technical/quant degree. Not to say that it's impossible for those people, it isn't, but you'll need to prove your chops here some other way if you fall into the other camp.
Hahahah I love the "nerd street cred" part. STEM majors think any non-STEM majors are inbred imbeciles for some reason
Yeah, I think it's overplayed and unnecessary but that's how it goes I guess. It's kind of hilarious since I'm good friends with a ton of PMs who were English/History/Psych majors that run circles around some of the PMs I know with more technical backgrounds. A really big part of the PM role is having empathy for users and managing stakeholders with conflicting interests. That's not something you learn whilst buried nose deep in greek symbols or staring at an IDE for hours on end.
Why don't you directly try to recruit for product roles?
If you're not interested in PE/VC/Corp dev, you might not like the nature of work in IBD. I would try and recruit for MBB SF/Bay Area (though, won't go to a T2 consulting firm instead MS Menlo). It is possible to recruit for CorpStrat/Biz Ops after banking but you will playing catch up with your peers from consulting/PMs in big tech and you won't be building on your deal driven skill set from banking.
If you have a CS degree from a top school you will be fine either way, either consulting or banking would be a good gateway into major tech. It's more important that you "do well" in whichever one you choose, rather than choosing one or the other. So choose the one which you like and connect with more - the one where you will enjoy spending X hours a day doing actually the work. If that's banking, go for it, if it's consulting, same thing. And if you don't know, apply for both and decide later depending on what offers you get.
Neither? Why not big tech/ startup roles now?
Lot of big tech in the bay will value banking experience for product role (facebook is a great example of this). Can't speak to the MBB roles but I would imagine it would be held in a similar regard
product management is the new mba
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