Staying in IB or going in PE (London)
Hey guys - Analyst 2 here (at a BB - Like Credit Suisse / Barclays)
Just received a PE offer from a top fund (like KKR / Warburg)
But now I am not sure if I want to go there, I have heard that hours are worse in PE + salary is not as good (for junior level at least)
Would would you do?
I went from BB to a PE group and I am considering going back to IB. Received quite a few calls from recruiters in the last two months. Personally, I prefer IB.
Would be keen to hear your insights on this. What are the factors driving you to consider a return to IB?
Have HH reach-out right now for PE so the data points would be useful when weighing it up on my end.
1) I just prefer larger scale businesses as an employee. larger teams, larger number of direct reports, all of it. Larger investments and deals.
2) PE was too niche for me, people came mostly from BBs or PE shops and, honestly, I didn't like them as much as the traditional corporate staff.
You can try it out and hold the door open when you leave, maybe? It is not the easiest thing to return to IB, but the market is pretty good.
HUMBLE-BRAGGERS GET THE ROPE
I expected this comment - Now it's done so please focus on replying please
I personally find PE to be intellectually much more interesting. You're doing real work, investing actual money and delivering returns -- not putting together BS models with hardcoded growth rates which you send over to "clients" who don't use it seriously for even a second (sorry IB bros).
Long-term comp will be huge when you factor in carry.
Short-term, I'm surprised you think you'd be making less, my base went up by about ~15% more than what I would have made had I stayed, and overall comp probably ~20-25% more. Also got a small bit of carry, but can't really touch that.
Good luck with your decision whatever you do. Pick whatever you think you'll find more enjoyable doing (long hours doing something more fun is not as bad as long hours doing something you do not).
Or you based in the US?
Yeah my base in PE would be lower than my base in IB (I am in London)
You don't have an offer at KKR or Warburg otherwise you wouldn't say the salary isn't good.
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