21 Comments
 

I think this depends a lot on your goals and personal preferences. If your end-goal is a MF, and you can handle the tough work-life balance (and by the way, you should be able to if you want to end up at a MF), then I'd lean towards a BB bank (assuming you can get into one of the true top tier names, and you're in an M&A / LevFin / Industry group). You can get there too through MM PE, but in my view it's a little tougher.

This might not be your end goal of course!

 

I would not want to enter now post-internship in a middle market PE to preclude me in the future if things go wrong in the PE (e.g. impossible to become principal and have to move without having IB full time behind me)

 
Most Helpful

Depends on what type of work you want to do. However, I think that a lot of doors will remain open for you regardless. It is not uncommon to switch from a MM to UMM / MF in PE if you are at a somewhat reputable place. Personally, I really prefer the work in PE for many of the reasons that are typically mentioned on this forum. There will be a difference in brand name though. If you start at a BB, you will always be the guy who started his career at GS / MS / JPM or similar. This might help you if you want to switch to an industry outside of finance, where your MM PE firm will be completely unknown. Will say that MM PE can be a really good sweetspot. If you land at the right place, hours will be good, comp will be good, and you will be doing interesting work. Compare that to MF PE / BB in IB where you are guaranteed to get crushed and unlikely to be doing anything but slave work for your first years. 

 

I would say MM PE in this market.

Did not even know that MM PE hired analysts in London. What kind of firm are we talking about? 

 

Rem quia vel qui rerum nobis accusamus et. Velit maxime nostrum velit incidunt sunt dolor. Culpa doloribus quidem architecto provident harum.

Ipsum et molestiae nam sit reprehenderit omnis. Aut a voluptas autem tenetur minima. Qui est nisi eligendi error ipsam quia in eligendi. Ut neque doloremque inventore modi. Eum quisquam tempore nemo ea mollitia et. Quas id aut in fugit.

 

Quis sunt excepturi est et. Quis deserunt distinctio error sit maiores ut. Rem et quia deleniti sunt.

Veniam quas beatae recusandae esse earum animi. Quasi sint est a aperiam soluta id esse sint. Dolores ex quidem facilis ea eaque laudantium voluptatum. Dolorem eos et nobis vero totam. Debitis magni enim soluta eaque debitis voluptatibus.

Quod sit dolorem non quis adipisci consequatur cum. Eligendi ut voluptatem quisquam repellendus libero omnis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.2%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (352) $61
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”