Would you pick GS over anything?

If you had the opportunity to lateral to GS, would you take it?

As someone coming from a middle/upper tier BB, would the experience be signifigantly better to accept a decrease to WLB? For example - GS pays better, has an unparalleled reputation, the people are extremely sharp, you will get strong execution experience, but the WLB/culture suffers in some aspects because of that. Do you think it is worth lateraling for a signifigant reputational/experience/pay increase but also a signifigant WLB decrease?

For context, I am in a strong coverage group that has (mostly) protected saturdays, light work Sundays (sometimes none), allows us to actually take protected vacation - all extremely rare for a NYC BB. The pay is mid-tier and the experience is mid-upper tier.

Also this is completely theoretical, as I see GS as the top of the top in terms of reputation and the “dream shop” to lateral to, so this is a general question about what things would make you consider lateraling in my situation. Any insight is much appreciated:)

58 Comments
 

if we are talking about GS C&R, the only bank i would take over them would be Solomon Partners (formerly PJ Solomon). Similar deal exposure (albeit it our M&A deal sizes are smaller than GS), better pay, much better culture/wlb, and very chill and understanding junior and senior bankers. 

 

pj solomon

when your wife's MF PE boyfriend lets you meet your wife after weeks 

 

Not sure why this is getting so many MS, it has been discussed over and over but many top students at Wharton/MIT/Harvard choose these groups and you can't say they could not land GS if they wanted

 
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Depending on what your long-term goals are. If you want to stay in banking, I think the platform may be helpful when it comes to dealflow. If you want to leave in 2 years, then it's not as important. I used to work at GS and I thought that the people there were not materially smarter than those at other shops. I was in a pretty sweaty group and you don't know how much life sucks until you're working until 4AM for weeks on end. IMHO not worth it - I don't think the experience is significantly better in any way

 

Depends on the circumstances of your current shop. You're going to have to rebuild goodwill/compete for the best staffings against current analysts. If you are already well regarded at your current place and have existing seniors that are willing to mentor you, then it's not worth leaving. Also, I think the obsession with GS "brand" is way overblown on this site. The brand has been diluted and mired with controversy compared to where it was 15 years ago. If your greatest accomplishment further down in your career is having worked at GS for 2 years out of college, then you have bigger things to worry about

 

I’d take basically any non shit-tier bank over GS. Why work yourself to depression only to exit to a fund that specializes in suicide? Would rather have >4 hours of sleep per night and an exit with WLB + a clear pathway to VP / carry at a MM fund.

 

DB TMT has better deal flow (like 32 megacap deals in 2021) and comp (AN1s raking in >320k USD) than GS TMT. GS TMT has marginally better exit opps into product management I suppose.

 

At this point in my career, their return to office policy (I think it is 4 or 5 days mandatory) is a complete non-starter. Too many other places like EBs and certain BBs that will provide the same level of comp, good deal experience/career opportunities, etc.

As an analyst the list would probably be a lot smaller - Probably would go for GS and suck it up for 2 years

 

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