Offers from BX/KKR vs WP

Have an Analyst offer at WP and a return offer after SA from BX/KKR both in PE and in NY.

  • The role at WP is traditional PE and BX/KKR is sector-oriented PE (Infra/RE)
  • A quick note regarding Infra/RE PE and traditional PE, I am actually interested in carving a niche in Infra/RE longer term but also open to taking the more traditional offer from WP as well.

While I would take the BX/KKR offer for the marginally better brand/prestige, I always wanted to pursue an MBA from H/S and was wondering if it is worth taking the WP offer as they pay your MBA before returning as VP.

A few questions I would love to hear the community's opinion on:

1. Is there any possibility that BX/KKR pay for your MBA after 2 yrs as an Associate before returning as VP/Principal? Even if it's just a handful of the very best analysts/associates. 

2. If BX/KKR don't pay for your MBA, do they give return offers as a VP/Principal after you complete the MBA?

3. Should I factor in MBA at all when deciding between WP vs BX/KKR?

4. What would you choose if you were in my shoes?

I will obviously consider other factors when making the final decision but wanted to hear people's thoughts. Thank you so much!

14 Comments
 

Are you C/O 2022 or 2023? Because WP hasn't started conducting first rounds for C/O 2023, and if your class of 2022 shouldn't you have made this decision back in September of 2021?

 
Most Helpful

Received offers at WP and BX/KKR but for the associate program. Can PM if you go off anon. All else equal, they’re pretty different strategies so that should be the main deciding factor for you, not relative prestige. 

If you’re looking to stay in PE post analyst/associate, I personally would opt for WP based on culture, comp, career progression, perks and optionality (stage agnostic mandate). BX/KKR might be marginally better if you want to leave finance entirely post analyst/associate but all three will place well into hedge funds if that’s your thing / other lateral PE moves 

 

For their corporate buyout group or any of their PE gigs (OP is Infra/ RE)? And is it because of the name or the type of work? I'm at a competitor doing very similar work so curious.

 

The key part of this decision is that sector specific PE is very different than generalist PE. There are not a lot of people jumping around from RE/Infra to traditional PE and the exit opps are quite different. In terms of prestige, WP generalist PE is far more prestigious than Infra/RE at BX/KKR. Obviously prestige shouldn’t matter much if RE/Infra is your passion, but the way you’re discussing these options, it seems like you don’t have a specific interest in that sector and want to keep doors open

 

This decision is binary, given that the reputations of these firms are comparable. If you want to do traditional PE, go to WP. If you want to do infra / RE, go to BX / KKR.

At a junior level, optionality is one of the most valuable things you can have. Which is why prestige goes for a premium - optimizes optionaloty/marketability.

Same goes for PE>infra and RE. You can go form PE to Infra or RE pretty easily, other way around not so much.

 

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