Small M&A Boutique Full-Time Offer vs. EB Internships

Hi everyone,

I recently received a full-time offer at a small to lower-mid-cap M&A and fundraising boutique in France, where the partners are former BB bankers. The firm does a few small deals per year, primarily focusing on fundraising for growth cleantech companies. However, I also have upcoming interviews for internships at elite boutiques (EBs) in London. There’s no guarantee that the EBs will be hiring full-time afterward, especially given the current market climate.

The full-time offer gives me more security, but the pay is lower compared to what I could potentially earn at an EB. My questions are:

• Would you take the security of the full-time offer, especially in this market?
• Is it feasible to lateral from this boutique to a larger firm (either BB or EB) after gaining some experience?

I appreciate your insights!