Hi! Need help deciding between two choices a Tier 3 Bank (Mizuho/Nomura/HSBC/BNP) or a tech boutique (USA/GCA/FT Partners). I know the tech boutique has better deal flow but worried about being pigeonholed in an industry I am not really enjoy. Any advice on what to take or how to decide? Thanks in advance!
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ft or sa?
FT
Isn’t the Nomura SF position tech anyway?
T3 bank is a NYC position
I would personally take one of the tech offers, but that's probably biased because I work in Tech IB. I know that Union Square and FT Partners are incredibly active and you would get a lot of great experience, especially in M&A products. I really haven't heard great things about most of the groups at the "Tier 3" banks (as you call them) you mentioned. But it really depends on what group you'd be looking at within those larger, foreign banks. I will say that your chances of having a bad experience (in terms of deal flow) are probably higher at a Tier 3 bank than at the tech firms. The hours are likely worse at the tech firms, however.
If you're not set on tech as an industry, I'd still take the T3 bank. This is because:
As someone in charge of recruiting / resume selection for a MM PE fund, I would have bias for tech boutique background vs T3 bank
Candidate can make case why they opted for tech boutique like USA or FTP. Also boutiques run lean and IMO analysts from boutiques are generally more plug & play day 1
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