It’s ok to have different preferences
Just thought I'd write a quick post especially for the students on here that let this thread dictate their preferences and what they truly like. It's ok to like what you like, regardless of what the majority opinion is on this thread. I am someone that likes the idea of pursuing a career in banking, despite most people on here saying that buy side is so much better. I am someone who mainly recruited for BB's because I personally prefer BBs over EBs even though most people on this forum will swear that EBs are so much better. I am going into a group that isn't touted as the strongest at the bank but I recruited specifically targeting that group because I genuinely like the industry.It's okay to like what you like if you have personal reasons and preferences. Take good advice but don't let this forum discourage you from what you truly like or you'll end up unhappy and maybe leaving the industry in a couple years with a sour taste in your mouth. This applies to career, industry, group, bank name, city, etc
Thank you for this. Sometimes I feel have to get off this website. It's kinda toxic when every bank I get far in the process with gets shit on here. Makes me feel bad abt myself but like you said it's just the internet and at the end of the day, even if you don't start at a top BB/EB, being at a semi-decent bank will allow you lateral to those opportunities.
No worries man. Be proud of your shit. As many have said, comparison is the thief of joy. Also, what most people fail to realize is that this forum is 90% students who aren’t in any firm yet and a lot of these people will end up leaving Finance all together
Cannot agree more. I took a job at a MM in non-NYC known for its culture and turned down some BB/EB interviews. People at my school thought I was insane. Now I’m making the same money as them and hate my life a whole lot less than my peers at NYC BBs, no regrets at all.
That’s a good point because salaries are pretty similar across the board but being somewhere you like is key because then it is more sustainable. Also if you are good with staying in banking that is even more important and it’s easier to lateral after all the juniors head to PE (most of them taking haircuts in pay)
Higher pay and better culture IB >>>>> BB/EB , any day for me
There are no guarantee in exits and who knows if someone wants to stick around in banking a bit longer so they'll be financially set to not have to work 10 years from now. You may go to GS or EVR, but unless you manage to get into one of the top funds you are guaranteed to take a large pay cut in any other exit there's no question there. Being in a lower COL or having higher pay in IB for the same work is a no-brainer in my eyes.
Well said and a good message for prospects. Chase happiness not prestige.
If you break in, your career prospects are bright regardless and the money will follow. Happiness to everyone isn’t GS/MS/BX or whatever is elite these days.
Just wrapped up my summer analyst stint at a KKR/BX/Apollo/Carlyle
The first week of the internship I came to the realization of how prestige obsessed I had been during recruiting that I forgot to even think about happiness. Finished out the internship but ultimately not for me despite the brand name. The internship put me on antidepressants and I did not mesh with my team at all.
This is not to say don’t work at these places. I met some great people and kudos to those of you thinking big and wanting to be at the top.
Now taking the foray back into recruiting finding people I like to work with is number one. I guess moral of the story for me was prestige is not going to make me happy (however cliche that might be).
Tempora perferendis quia sit animi illo tempora et. Eos natus et qui. Commodi est rerum id dolores.
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