Reneging PE Offer (to stay in banking) - Thoughts?
Title says it all. Considering reneging a PE offer with a large, well known PE firm to stay in banking.
Interested in an upstart bank / group where I will be able to take on a lot of responsibility.
How bad of an idea is this??
Thanks.
Horrible idea.
For what reasons ?
You are going to give up a strong brand name shop for an unproven and unknown one this early in your career? Are you insane? If it is a "well known PE firm" you should have plenty of opportunity to learn / take on responsibility. The answer is so incredibly obvious it's practically a truism.
While I don't agree with the sissy attitude in the comments so far ("who gives up a known for an unknown?" . . ummm, most of the world's most successful people make a habit of it actually) I do think your particular reasons for skipping PE aren't great. PE would position you well for a return to IB if that's what interests you down the road. While also positioning you well for other things that IB won't position you well for.
After you're established, yes (read anything by Steve Schwarzman to understand). However, this early in your career you're essentially worthless. To make a move this early is foolish. You have a slim chance of success, but the downside is far worse.
Also, the sissy attitude comment is hilarious. My very first professional job was a startup and my name is still on the wall to this day. Cheers
I get the general concept of brands being more valuable early in your career vs. later. I think everyone does.
But you're going too far saying that anyone who trades brand for a riskier opportunity at age 24 is a fool. It assumes too much. The future world may not value established brands the same way it does today. Career progression strategies change a lot. A Fortune 500 brand used to be a stronger resume builder in finance than a Wall St brand. Several Wall St CEOs have talked about what rebels they were for taking a job on the street out of school instead of a job at IBM or some place. Who's to say that this PE shop's brand will matter in even a few years?
I'll take it a step further, I think the entire idea of building your resume with brands is fading. So not just which brand, but any brand.
Schwartzman is certainly a valid opinion. On the other extreme, Warren Buffett transferred out of Wharton to Univ. of Nebraska at age 19. I'm sure a broad survey of leading thinkers would yield varied results on the question of taking brand risk at an early age.
I say do it. More risk but def more upside.
Ok I should caveat that the name of this smaller bank is incredibly well known. It’s also in a geography I am interested in.
Any thoughts on the risk of reneging? How pissed will they be? I would be a tiny cog in the machine and I’m sure they’d be able to find someone to fill my spot.
I do not see myself working in PE long term. What I can see myself is working in the industry that this particular bank focuses on - not working at an actual company per se, but working on transactions in the industry.
Personally I just don’t see how I will set myself apart in PE. However, I can envision setting myself apart in an advisor role at this particular bank / in this particular industry.
This context changes things quite a bit. Honestly, going for what you see yourself doing long-term is always the best bet. But why not do PE with this sector focus? I wouldn't shy away from PE if you think it will be easier to make a name for yourself as a banker. It's going to be tough either way. If being an investor isn't interesting to you, then going the advisory path is a slam dunk.
The only thing I would advise you on is this. If you decide to reneg on the PE offer, give them a little context. Let them know exactly what you've told us here and I think any reasonable professional will not hold that against you.
Good advice - listen to this guy
Thank you for the advice. I realize that both paths are incredibly difficult to make it to the top (any role in finance is).
I just don't see how I will be any better at investing than the next guy. I was able to get the PE on-cycle (i.e. ~2 months after hitting the desk full time...) because I present well and had an interesting deal to talk about that was pure luck of the draw as to why I was staffed on it.
After 1.5 years into the job though, I genuinely think I am cut out for this particular industry in banking.
Further, the PE job, while it is not a 2 years and out type of program, I really do not see myself choosing to do it for more than 2 years. I already see myself trying to switch back into this particular industry of banking once I've done the PE thing for a couple years.
While I understand that PE can help you build a network - is it really worth 2 years of time when you could instead use that time building transaction experience
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