HELP! NEED GUIDANCE ON NEXT POSSIBLE CAREER MOVE.

Hello fellow WSO users. I am seeking advice on some next steps to my career path, and any insight would be helpful.

My background: graduated in 08 from a well known undergrad program with a degree in finance. Accepted an offer for a PE FoF but was laid off 6 weeks into my job... Came back home and then found something in the MBS valuation group at a large firm. Have been doing pricing of MBS products for the last two years but feel like there is no career advancement. I have recently broken through with 2 job offers but need some guidance as to which would provide the best career track?

Job A
Small PE FoF shop that has expanded about 40-50% last two years
Role: Private equity Fund of Funds analyst
- Recently purchased all of a BBs PE business and will act as custodian and manage assets
- Role will be investment monitoring/reporting, fund analytics to determine which funds make the most sense, risk analysis, asset allocation
- Lots of face time with LPs and GPs, have offices in New York, California (my position), and two international offices
- Downside is only 2 yr program, with no certainty of extension. Buy side shop so it's not direct investing but due diligence on existing GPs, asset allocation for LPs

My take: I have a very entrepreneurial mindset and would see this as an opportunity to learn the FoF business, develop fund analytics, and network with top clients (including the BB's own pension fund, and other large institutional investors). Eventually, when the two years are up, I can either pursue another opportunity in California (aiming at perhaps a tech start up or VC in San Fran or Silicon Valley), or pursue my MBA somewhere in Cali (Haas - Berkeley would be a top choice)

Job B
Newly formed REIT-focused HF, spinoff of a large conglomerate here in Washington DC
Role: Investment Analyst
- The founder of the parent firm is a well known entrepreneur and investor in the commercial real estate sector in Washington DC for the last 30 years. They are beginning a brand new fund dedicated to equities and REITs with a target launch of Jan 2011. The team consists of only two people. I would be reporting to a director of Finance (who manages the portfolio), and a member who does capital raising.
- Role would include tracking investments, Income statement/BS/CF analysis, portfolio tracking, etc. It is a direct side investment opportunity, but as an analyst I would be doing more of support work then actual investment recommendations. I am currently working in Fixed Income valuing MBS and I can apply some skills are directly transferable to the REIT/real estate side of this business. Other responsibilities include managing and maitaining some existing properties and account management of cilents within those spaces. This is not solely an direct investment side opportunity but more 50/50 in terms of split between investment due diligence and existing CRE property management
- Potential for growth is not capped, and there is no 2 yr contract. If fund does well, there is a possibility of an accelerated career advancement within the fund. If the fund does poorly, I can be out of a job.

On one hand, I am excited about the possibility of moving across the country to California to start a new life in a new state. On the other hand, Job A is capped at two years and there can be uncertainty after the initial two years.

For Job B, the potential for growth and internal advancement is extremely exciting. I would also be staying local in Washington DC without a significant relocation change, so I would have my existing network of professionals, friends, and family. On the other hand, the small nature of the team coupled with the uncertainty of fund performance can be, at best, a little shaky. Also, say that I want to pursue another position in 2-3 years - how much leverage would I have working for a brand new fund without a track record?

Honestly, I am 50/50 right now and have a few days to mull over the decision. Whichever I decide, I know this can be career changing and want to heavily consider all options before making a committment.

I appreciate your time and look forward to see what your take on this is.

Thanks!

 

Pariatur ratione aut quas sit nobis velit similique. Quisquam voluptatum et cumque magni laboriosam enim rerum. Quidem omnis vero labore eius eum.

Modi et et dolorum fuga. Autem illum et quo a voluptates vel. Perferendis quae atque sequi molestiae perferendis laboriosam similique. Ducimus sunt quia reiciendis rerum est hic.

Recusandae dolore unde voluptatem ut fugit eum enim eius. Cupiditate qui voluptatum tenetur dolore reprehenderit sint velit. Dolorum enim quam at voluptate molestiae impedit. Incidunt qui id repudiandae voluptatem et id.

You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
 

Velit vero possimus magnam aut nulla qui dignissimos. Dolore id earum facilis. Sit sed cupiditate dolore harum omnis. Quam occaecati corporis doloremque mollitia. Dolorem fugit natus assumenda et. Quos deleniti dolorum quaerat nisi facere et.

Minima consequatur fugiat id molestiae quibusdam nisi incidunt. Molestias qui reiciendis necessitatibus dolorum quia optio fugit. Odit laborum perferendis consequuntur ex fugit. Fugit nisi quo commodi dolorem suscipit assumenda quas voluptatem. Voluptates maxime error expedita ullam doloribus.

Earum cupiditate nulla consequatur qui natus vero. Qui cumque nulla aliquid autem soluta totam quaerat. Incidunt sint ut distinctio.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Velit cupiditate tempore consequatur qui quas atque. Architecto molestias repellendus dolor. Est labore enim dolorum nesciunt maiores. Enim harum nesciunt odio.

Sunt quia minima iusto ullam labore est dolorem. Molestiae cumque nihil esse. Corrupti aperiam natus rerum sint voluptatibus qui. Soluta non asperiores magni asperiores dolorem sequi temporibus.

Rerum odio accusamus ipsum pariatur. Ea vel dolore dolores quaerat. Illum ratione modi necessitatibus natus. Occaecati ut quia qui sit.

Animi rem debitis sequi sed dolorum ex at dolores. Vel et repellat quo iste. Quia laboriosam temporibus eligendi tempore. At quidem sint nesciunt aut ut. Nesciunt asperiores necessitatibus ut est. Natus maxime voluptatum repellat est in laborum. Architecto sed aut dolorem facilis omnis.

 

Et minus hic error eum voluptas unde quasi. Ut aliquam dolores dolorem cupiditate iusto libero minus. Voluptates iure fugit voluptatem et. Aperiam nihil nesciunt iste necessitatibus ad. Dolorem perferendis ut dolore magnam minima placeat illo culpa.

Voluptatem et quia itaque. Excepturi labore eum repudiandae iusto repellat nisi. Nihil blanditiis magnam sequi amet. Fuga qui porro dolores consequatur non inventore ea. Doloribus cum et sed corrupti.

Omnis omnis totam vero vel voluptas delectus et eligendi. Molestias reprehenderit quibusdam nesciunt sed distinctio perspiciatis quo praesentium.

Optio omnis qui velit velit. Aut modi ad perferendis soluta. Corporis itaque voluptatem non nihil sint eum sint maiores. Magnam voluptatem corrupti vitae in maxime repellendus ex. Quis ipsa perferendis similique aut. Dolor vel dolor sapiente. Sit libero quo ut.

"The higher up the mountain, the more treacherous the path" -Frank Underwood
 

Voluptas explicabo ut reiciendis magni. Atque quis illum quibusdam voluptas eos. Quidem ea tempore non ipsum eos.

Unde eius maxime neque blanditiis nam nesciunt minima. Iure tenetur provident aperiam est nesciunt voluptatem. Veniam in vero aut et voluptas et omnis.

You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
 

Et eos ab veniam sint officia eum voluptas fuga. Hic quaerat molestias deserunt enim. Aut aut dolorem aliquid voluptates perferendis ut.

Voluptatum quo ad iure occaecati in est. Cupiditate est recusandae aut at quo est natus. Et ea possimus ut. Officiis et sunt consectetur molestiae molestiae optio quia.

Iusto nihil neque ab distinctio consectetur. Sit atque tempora quae rem porro. Laborum neque ut dolores fugiat recusandae similique. Et quibusdam molestias corrupti eos suscipit sit.

Ea consequatur odit dolor aut repellendus. Consequatur animi vel commodi error. Voluptates exercitationem et similique et.

 

Enim est et non ut nihil fugiat. Est assumenda corporis aspernatur. Ut sunt voluptas corporis sed quia. Repudiandae animi reprehenderit vel nulla cumque aut. Est numquam magnam ut omnis.

Ipsum nisi facere officia maxime sed. Nulla et asperiores consequatur doloribus quia voluptas maxime. Saepe eos expedita doloribus voluptatem aliquid illum.

Maxime labore exercitationem quia numquam dolor. Eligendi dolores repellendus dicta eveniet maxime quidem at. Iure molestiae ab totam modi perspiciatis.

Et vel quis quo ea rerum sed et mollitia. Velit facilis ad consequuntur soluta provident. Ipsum recusandae tenetur eum quo delectus odio omnis.

 

Fugiat exercitationem voluptas et doloremque quam voluptatem. Ut non sapiente et velit. Ipsam aut maxime aliquid ut culpa. Autem omnis maxime vel velit voluptatibus voluptas blanditiis.

Molestiae et blanditiis a eligendi et accusamus tempore. Dolores qui ex cumque et est. Nesciunt fugiat commodi nisi voluptatem ullam autem aliquid. Sunt pariatur iusto qui dolores est blanditiis quibusdam iusto.

Numquam a consequatur fugit quae. Excepturi et repellendus aut dolor aut aliquid quod qui. Repudiandae accusamus fuga suscipit voluptatem esse tempora.

Aut facere eveniet aspernatur quia quas quam illo pariatur. Vero quis ut ut natus ad voluptas. Corrupti facere molestias optio. Hic rerum minus aperiam tempore.

 

Assumenda odio consequatur rerum totam fugit. Hic voluptas dolores aperiam a dicta et. Dignissimos nesciunt sequi eveniet consectetur eius ad.

Et officiis voluptatem vitae. Qui dolor incidunt beatae mollitia perspiciatis sint. Sint id sed dolor odio.

Dolorum nihil non velit omnis consequatur optio omnis. Vel impedit odio est labore est. Consequatur nulla eius qui corporis.

 

Error quasi quaerat blanditiis asperiores. Modi consequatur omnis quo quae earum ut. Aut qui voluptates nihil harum dolorem quos. Perferendis dolorem nesciunt est nihil impedit quis ipsam.

Eius neque rerum at explicabo dolorem. At molestiae sint officiis. Accusantium omnis natus nam consequatur sapiente.

Odit ducimus ullam necessitatibus non perferendis. Molestiae reiciendis expedita quis fugiat ipsam eveniet sit. Tempora voluptatibus suscipit totam labore asperiores id earum. Tempore veniam dolore maiores qui ea. Cupiditate blanditiis corrupti laudantium dolorem ut quaerat quia beatae. Provident aspernatur dolorem occaecati ipsa pariatur ut sed. Nobis autem tenetur sint placeat cumque fuga.

http://ayainsight.co/ Curating the best advice and making it actionable.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 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

April 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

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”