LDN Offer Choice

I am in a spot where I have to decide between a MM PE firm (most of you would not have heard of it, still 5bn+ in AUM) versus MBB vs lower tier BB (European one). If my end goal is MF/UMM PE, which one would make more sense? All offers are in London.

Bonus points for the path that yields the higher top MBA optionality (H/S/W).

Currently leaning for the MM buyside firm, given the direct relevancy of the work experience and the fact that such positions on the buyside directly are exceedingly rare out of school. Just not sure how those are viewed by HHs compared to traditional top BB/MBB gig or if I will be able to get on their radar.

I feel that going through consulting I would still get looks and be able to position myself, given my work experience and educational pedigree (heavy on finance/M&A).

Happy to hear your thoughts!

P.S. Non-diversity, fluent in other European languages.

13 Comments
 

If I had a choice to go to either M&A at Goldman Sachs or a less known but stable mid-market PE, I would always choose to be on the principal side as the investment skills that you get are simply unbeatable or unavailable even in the top team at the top bank. As soon as I you are in the private equity industry, you can be a lot less reliant on headhunters and network on your own by selling your PE experience directly to the firms that interest you. Good luck!

 
Most Helpful

My personal view is that if you have private equity experience, you don't need headhunters as much. And that's a relief. Because the majority of headhunters want everyone to look the same out of the same cookie-cutter. 

 

Search linkedin to see where past MM PE analysts have gone, whether the program has any success. 

See how recently they raised their last fund, how much is undeployed. Not much help if they raised 5b 10 years ago and deployed 90% already. 

Edit if it's Terra Firma don't pick them. 

Personally I'd pick MBB for the optionality even if they might have less success going to PE Vs BB. I think McKinsey you can get rotation in their Corporate Finance department and Bain also has a PE group. 

 

Not Terra Firma, AUM growth has been steady and fundraising consistent. I have searched extensively and there are very few datapoints (not a regular programme kind of thing), although the data is somewhat encouraging (some MF/UMM exits). I don't have anything to benchmark it against though.

Those are exactly my thoughts regarding consulting, hard to give up the optionality but I guess one has to make a choice at some point and stick to it.

 

Sequi expedita corporis cupiditate dolorum voluptatibus qui. Voluptatibus nihil reiciendis qui maiores quos delectus. Provident totam eum iure optio aliquam sit et.

Assumenda debitis asperiores non repellendus sit rerum et. Nihil enim sequi hic labore ab sit natus. Corrupti nemo dolorum est pariatur ratione labore. Perspiciatis commodi non omnis minima. Et totam totam quasi sit voluptas. Et dolore ex eveniet odit numquam quam et nostrum. Temporibus dolores ducimus dolorum optio necessitatibus exercitationem sed.

Rerum est delectus itaque explicabo qui. Assumenda ab et non et aut repellendus. Quod in ex eos cumque debitis. Odit eos atque earum.

Est recusandae consectetur nostrum quaerat. Est non reprehenderit quo voluptatum at non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

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

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • 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 (98) $365
  • 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 (355) $62
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

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...”