Rising junior at a semi-target, opportunity to do unpaid at lower middle market PE firm in Chicago (unpaid) or lower middle market bank in Cleveland (paid), which would you recommend if intention is to be a BB SA after junior year?
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Depends, both have its pros and cons.
Unpaid PE: you're in chicago, more networking opportunities.
Paid banking: obvious interest in banking and paid.
Personally, I'd go with the paid banking role.
I'd take the one with most upside for networking opportunities.
-- and the most advantageous to your 'banking story'. You can say that your PE experience made you realize that you want to work on the sell-side part of the transaction and that the buy-side isn't really what you're looking for. Or you can say that your banking experience reaffirmed to you that IB is what you want to do.
In my opinion, take the PE one. Develop a good relationship with your bosses and get them to vouch for you with their bankers for next summer.
I think the PE because of location and opportunity....well that being said you want to make sure you are actually getting good experience not just running coffee. Assuming both are very legit..then PE
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