Career Choice Advice

I received a recent offer for a top direct lending shop but unsure how I feel about it even though I don’t dislike credit investing.

Im coming from a top group in the street that has extremely good MF/UMM/Top tech exits and I’m not sure if I’m settling. Few close friends of mine and one mentor don’t think that going to direct lending from such group is the right move. I’m not prestige driven at all so I don’t particularly see the “prestige” drop as an issue.

Im in a few other processes for tech related investing and should finalize those in a few weeks but an offer is an offer. I have a slight preference for tech investing but I really don’t hate credit, I previously interned at a credit shop and really enjoyed the work. Would appreciate any advice here!

5 Comments
 

Basis only the wording used here, it feels like the advice of your mentors and others seem to be echoing on your mind - may be there is some truth to what they are saying. Rather than telling you what to do, here’s a framework I would use to evaluate your situation

1/ Think about where you want to be 5 years from now, will you be happy doing what you are doing?

2/ In case this does not work out, does taking this opportunity close other doors? Vice Versa open other doors? Think of similar lines for the other opportunities as well

 
  1. I’m not quite sure I guess where I want to be in five years job wise but I’m more focus on being in a shop where I actually like the culture and I’m not miserable.
  1. That’s a good point and my main concern about the offer. Tech investing leaves many doors open and I could probably even do DL if I wanted to later on. I think the transition from DL to tech/other will be much harder
 

Voluptatum sit amet quam non. Laudantium numquam id impedit nam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Private Equity

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

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (356) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”