Need help choosing between competing boutiques
Hi All, I have an offer from two competing boutiques. I am having trouble deciding between the two: what factors should I generally consider?
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You should choose the better one
Typical mba associate low value added comment
And he made his analyst post it for him.
Biggest factors I would think if aside from the obvious - comp, in no particular order,
Location
Exits of prior analysts
Group
Work-life balance (try to gauge this through interviews with lower level personnel) or through WSO
Here's a list of factors to take into account when choosing between offers:
- Industry: Is it a generalist role or industry-focused? If you're unsure about which industry you want to cover then generalist is the way to go but if you're interested in a specific team then take that into consideration when choosing between the two offers.
- Exit Opportunities: Which boutique has a stronger reputation? If you're looking to be a career banker then this doesn't matter as much but if you want to pursue private equity exits then the firm's reputation for buy-side is somewhat relevant.
- Team Culture: Which firm or team has a better reputation for culture? Team culture tends to be overlooked but is super important since you'll be stuck with them essentially 24/7. Did you enjoy speaking/interviewing with the team? Are the senior bankers supportive? Are all things you need to consider. If you have friends that work within the industry then you should ask for their opinions about the firms. Odds are that they have worked together with them and might have some real insight into the firm's culture.
- Location: You didn't mention location but working in NYC versus Chicago or SF/LA is a big factor. Cost of living, lifestyle, weather, etc.
- Compensation: Which firm offers better compensation?
Hope this helps and all the best!
Late reply on my part but super helpful. Thank you!!
Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but you should definitely ask about deal flow. Some boutiques will keep you busy and give you good experience while others will just have you sitting in an office looking busy.
How would you say is the best way to find this info? Is it okay to ask about pitching v execution in interviews?
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