Help got two offers don't which to decide on PE internship ( 6 month maybe negotiable 1 year ) vs. Big 4 2 year graduate program

my other offer is from 2 of the big 4 firms, 2 year graduate program (full time). in financial hhhh

18 Comments
 
Best Response

PE dawg. Take it and start networking and leveraging the name to find other opportunities with boutiques etc. And of course kill it during your internship so you get the full time offer (or at least to the best of your abilities)

 

Sounds like you're fairly risk averse, which is fine but given that this seems to be a reputable fund you should have no problem going back to Big 4 as they are much more open to lateral hires - in the event you don't get a full time offer

 

But whats so special about the program? Cant you just find smth else after those 6 month? In Europe big4 recruits on an ongoing basis, just in Germany there are like 50 internship/starting lvl vacancies per firm on any given day. Is it different in Dubai? Frankly speaking I would take the risk, potential upside is really high, and judging by those offers looks like you are more than able to find smth else in case of not recieving an offer

 

PE all day man.

As others have said, it is easier to go into Big 4 post PE internship than it would be to get from Big 4 into PE.

If you accept Big 4 you will be pushing to get back into PE and wondering what could have happened if you had really performed well during your internship.

I had a friend of mine who interned at a shop who didn't have a full time program and they ended up offering him a full time position as he performed so well. Admittedly, it is anecdotal - but it does happen.

All the best, OP!

'I'm jacked... JACKED TO THE TITS!!'
 

Exec sum: PE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Big 4

Unless you need the FT job for financial reasosn, go for PE.

Even if it doesn't work out, you have a decent chance to leverage the PE internship towards a FT offer at a IB boutique or similar, depending on your exact goals. Investing is about taking calculated risk with attractive reward possibilities, you just experience that firsthand ;)

 

Dolorum et suscipit eligendi recusandae quod excepturi recusandae. Consequatur expedita molestiae libero et sit est. Tempore consectetur sunt dolores sed necessitatibus ipsam. Magnam placeat quia nostrum rerum laboriosam. Reiciendis porro explicabo sit ullam reiciendis.

Explicabo consequuntur repellat quos non tempore repellat ad. Ut ut sunt quia accusamus incidunt.

Dolore rerum velit repellat ut sapiente provident. Amet eum vel vitae velit cum nulla. Nihil eos blanditiis non fugit non molestiae. Itaque ea iste vero odit non soluta. Omnis voluptas velit ullam non.

Possimus voluptate quisquam corrupti voluptatem aut ipsam porro. Similique architecto nesciunt incidunt aliquid autem esse animi. Velit saepe ea numquam et ut porro temporibus. Qui qui eveniet consectetur itaque.

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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”