PE Location Recruiting

I am currently in capital markets and I have an offer to join a traditional IB coverage group in Charlotte. I am also going through the process at two other firms in Chicago. I would like to be in Chicago/SF/NYC (order of preference).

But, I understand how difficult it is to break into IB and I have not secured those offers in Chicago. I don't want to play with fire, but the firm/group I have an offer with does not have an office in Chicago/SF. I did try to leverage the offer at the other firms, but it expires before the superdays.

So, please let me know what strategy you think is best:

1) Switch internally to a group in those locations (but start over as a 1st year..)

2) Buy-side recruiting in Chicago/SF/NYC (how difficult is it coming from Charlotte?)

3) Risk it: Turn down the offer and hope to get another at one of the two shops (failure: no gig, continue to recruit, and blacklisted from that one company)

Thank you for your time,

Mayank

4 Comments
 

Wow, option 3 sounds pretty risky -- the kind of decision you could regret the most one day. If you're getting opportunity to get into IB, and that's been your goal, I would throw out option 3. Seems like with so many analysts and associates quitting these days, there should be ample opportunities to lateral in the future (especially if you will then have IB experience).  

 

Thank you for your thoughts. I agree that option 3 is very risky, but I just wanted to put it out there to garner people's ideas. IB feels like a means to an end since it opens up so many doors. I am just completely unaware of the recruiting scene after IB. My opinion comes from reading old threads that iterate how recruiting from a less popular city is very difficult. So, I guess I should re-phrase the question / start new thread about which is more viable: Lateraling after a year or recruiting for my next gig from Charlotte.

-Mayank

 

Overall, it's not hard to break into Chicago IB. The real advice is to evaluate your profile, it doesn't seem like you are a white male based on your first name, which makes things many times harder for you as you progress in your career.

I am from midwest myself and knowing this lesson early on made my life easier.

 

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