Starting off in IB vs GE? Need advice

Is starting off your career as an analyst at a top/prestigious growth equity shop in a sourcing role a risky career decision? Would you rather start in IB at a middle market shop to build technical experience/get deal reps, see what you like investing wise, before making the jump? 

I am worried that if I choose growth/prestige, two years later I am in the job market with no technical skills, which will make it hard if I am looking for other investing opportunities. I am not 100% sure what I want to do long-term. But, I tilt more entrepreneurial and would like to maybe explore the independent sponsor model, buying out small businesses, or going into growth/operational-focused private equity. I am a modeling junky but also like sales. Also considering maximizing economics from EV perspective long-term.  

For those of you that did growth, is it easy to find associate positions after starting off as an analyst at a top shop given it's a smaller industry. Do you get lots of inbound from headhunters compared to your IB peers on GE/PE/IB roles. Could you make the transition back to IB or into PE as an analyst in growth if you don't like it?  

Any advice appreciated!

1 Comments
 

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