Thoughts on growing with a no name small-mid cap private equity firm with $170m in aum

I’m at a Canadian target and will be graduating soon and I have an offer in private equity at a new private equity firm in my city. I have worked there previously and they have an ambitious team with a good direction for the next 20 years. It’s a fairly new firm but it’s growth has been high since incorporation (7 years ago). In the midst of a COVID 19 pandemic they have solid deal flow and are currently in the process of adding 2 new companies to their portfolio.

My questions:

  1. Am I taking a risk by joining a no name firm from a target school?

  2. Can I go from small mid cap private equity to a solid investment bank during my post graduation? (Solid as in a big 5 Canadian bank, or a decent Swiss bank).

  3. Is there anything wrong with my mindset in looking to grow with a firm. Should I reconsider this?

P.S I understand we’re in the middle of a global pandemic and the unemployment rate is very high. Considering that should I just take this offer, or re recruit again?

Thanks.

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