PE vs EB vs BB ER

Hi everyone,

I have a dilemma to choose between 3 great options I have offers for:

- Bulge Bracket ER analyst 3 - $170k all in comp. Top 5 global BB. 50 hours per week average.

- Elite mid market Boutique IB - Associate Director (currently work here as Associate, they will promote me to keep me). All in Comp $170k plus equity (I’m not a fan of equity). Great local reputation, not some much international. 60 hours per week average. I am also starting to win mandates. They may eventually set up a PE arm in the next year or two.

- PE shop - Investment Associate - $150k all in comp - $30-$50m sized investments. Focused on businesses up to $200m. Reputation is okay. Small shop. Friend at KKR who is a principal said he would pick this to get into PE. 50 hours per week average.

what is everyone’s choice here? I do want to get into PE investing.

thanks.

5,958 WSO Academy Investment Banking Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Class of '23 Dec 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Full Resume Review

“Wilson was very helpful in my resume review. He asked clarifying questions to help me highlight the key aspects of my resume. Following the review, I feel confident that my updated resume accurately reflects my my professional work experience. I also appreciated how quick he was to respond to my enquires. His responses were supportive and ensured that my resume reflected key points that are relevant for my experience. I would definitely want to work with Wilson again in the future as this was a great experience for me.”

Haagse Hogeschool

Class of '28 Nov 2026 Cohort

4.70/5

Investment Banking Career Roadmap (optional)

“I recently had my first roadmap meeting with a mentor from WSO Academy, and it was truly a pleasure. We had such an open, genuine, and insightful conversation. What I appreciated most was how closely his background, career path, and long-term vision aligned with my own ambitions. It was almost as if we shared the same goals and outlook on the future, which made the conversation even more valuable. We discussed a wide range of topics, including starting my career in an analyst role in the APAC region, potential pathways into private equity, and how to eventually transition into the U.S. market. We also talked about opportunities in the Middle East and Europe, the importance of building and maintaining a strong professional network, and even the possibility of starting my own company in the long term. He shared valuable advice on the next steps I should take and how to approach my career strategically. What made the meeting particularly special was how approachable, supportive, and genuinely interested he was in my ambitions. Since I’m currently completing my internship in Singapore and he will also be visiting Singapore soon, we’re planning to meet for a coffee chat, which I’m really looking forward to. Overall, I’m extremely grateful for this experience. It was a genuinely inspiring, helpful, and insightful conversation that made me even more confident about my decision to join WSO Academy. I feel fortunate to have connected with a mentor whose experience and vision align so closely with the career path I hope to pursue.”

See All 11,090 WSO Academy Reviews

2 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

O

5y

Most Helpful

Hi LesGoh, whoops, looks like nobody chimed in here.... maybe one of these discussions below is relevant:

More suggestions...

I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.

Reply

Quote

Report

Other

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

IB

Intern in IB - Gen

5y

Molestias nostrum expedita voluptatem consequuntur id tenetur accusamus enim. Voluptatem autem nam dolores totam quas illo. Natus praesentium in ipsa rem corrupti sint tenetur excepturi.

Reply

Quote

Report

Other

Authored by: Certified Equity Research Professional - 2nd Year AssociateCertified Equity Research Pro

+136	UBS Catastrophic Q1-Q3 26, M&A -17%, Outside Top 10 in Americas, EMEA & APAC	36	5h
+50	Banking (Un)fortunately Still Needs You: My Case for Bankers in the AI Era	15	2d
+46	PWP acquisition by Piper cancelled	13	1h
+31	New analyst: how are you thinking about learning to model when AI is getting this good?	6	5d
+29	UBS IB #24 in US M&A in 2026	10	4d
+25	Houston banking Gods ?	16	13h
+23	Evercore poaches Baird DC Defense Team	12	1h
+20	Best Houston Banks for Culture in 2026	11	6m
+18	How to Exit a Sweatshop	4	4d
+18	Normal for lateral process to go +2 months?	3	20m

1	redever	99.2
2	BankonBanking	99.0
3	kanon	99.0
4	Secyh62	99.0
5	Betsy Massar	98.9
6	CompBanker	98.9
7	GameTheory	98.9
8	dosk17	98.9
9	DrApeman	98.9
10	Mimbs	98.8

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

PE vs EB vs BB ER

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

PE vs EB vs BB ER

See All Comments - 100% Free

Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum