Confused Mid levelishhh Person - Seeking Career Advice (PE vs Strategy / Corp Fin)

Hi All - I am here to seek career advice. 

Background:

  • Graduated from nontarget school
  • Broke into BB IB in NYC (worked for 3 years)
  • Later joined a PE firm, and did Infra / Telecom deals for 2+ years. (I really enjoyed the team and firm) and I had a promo to senior associate and a verbal offer to join the largest portfolio company of the firm as a VP BUT could not find personal satisfaction in my work any longer so I decided to leave with nothing lined up
  • Took 12 months off: traveled the world, spend time with family, tried to learn a new language. Launched an analytics saas company with a friend, was doing $1000 in MRR and now both of us have decided to treat the website like a "side hustle"

Decision Time:

  • I have been interviewing for finance/strategy/corporate finance roles at large tech firms in addition to Senior Associate / VP roles at PE firms 
  • I am confused .... not sure if I am passionate about either path. I think joining a finance role at a big company (preferably tech) will make me miss PE, the deal flow, and the exposure, and the money (I generally enjoyed my time in PE but was not in love with my life)
  • And I am afraid taking a job in PE will not make me satisfied as well .... The one thing about PE is that it's all you can do, If I wanted to build a side business while working in PE it will be nearly impossible. You need to commit to the job and stick by it and in return, it can be a great career path.

I am also very close to 30, just need to pick a path and stick by it, so just a bit stressed out. Feels like I am in a midlife crisis in my late 20s. Banking -> PE was so structured, I was working like a machine, now that I have more flexibility with my decision, life, career .. I am lost.


Wheeew ... I vented a lot above lol. Let me know if you have been in this situation and if you have any advice. 

 

Eveniet adipisci eos ad consequatur atque debitis odio. Corrupti dolorem alias quam voluptatem. Voluptas nesciunt ut possimus incidunt voluptatem ea. Harum ut voluptates ex natus error et sapiente qui. Numquam qui sunt non quo est. Ad odit laboriosam expedita consectetur eos debitis consequatur tempora.

Labore aperiam quae tempora quia. Architecto rerum dolore qui sed.

Excepturi est maiores aspernatur. Aliquam enim laudantium illo minima dolorum. Doloribus alias accusantium et blanditiis ipsum qui asperiores. Unde cupiditate ipsam repellendus sed omnis repellat et. Enim neque aut quae et tempora. Quisquam corporis labore quas et. Ipsum facere omnis molestiae et similique consectetur aperiam magnam.

Quos excepturi sit necessitatibus sunt quis. Veniam ex quia et beatae adipisci. Magnam consectetur dolores quod natus autem deserunt delectus. Fugit voluptatibus aut et incidunt ipsam deleniti.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 18 98.3%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”