UMM PE Analyst vs EB IB Analyst?

In college rn. I have an analyst offer at a respected UMM PE Firm (5B+ latest fund size). I like the culture and the everything else about the firm. Alternatively I can pursue IB at a top EB (Think EVR/PJT/CVP). My end goal is PE.

Pro's for IB are:

  • IB Network (although not as big for EB's I guess)
  • Technical Skills (best way to learn is arguably IB)
  • Optionality (My end goal is PE but still...)
  • Exit to MF PE (Obviously if I'm at UMM now I'm not going to be an associate at a MF)

Pro's for UMM PE

  • increased responsibility from a smaller environment
  • perhaps learn more PE-specific stuff
  • guaranteed PE job for 4 years, HSW exit guaranteed
  • don't have to recruit for PE
  • don't have to suffer IB hours.
20 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Don't have to suffer IB hours.

Don't count on it 

HSW exit guaranteed

I'm at a fund the likes of which you describe so understand I am not saying this from below, but you still need to work for it, or in other words:

Don't count on it

Increased responsibility from a smaller environment

An analyst is an analyst is an analyst... or in other words:

Don't count on it

Not to say your ideas of PE won't materialize but I would encourage you to think through some of these a little further. 

 

UMM PE assuming solid IRRs and history of internal promotes. There are hundreds of EB analysts each year, far fewer make it in the UMM/MF pe analyst programs

 

An analyst is an analyst so you’re gonna expect bloody 90+ hours doing Excel data entry at some point whether it’s at MFPE or EB. At which one will you learn investing better and think about risk/reward vs. at which one will you think about which CAGR to use to best portray this company for its IPO teaser?

Array
 

I chose an EB over a top UMM because I was primarily interested in MF PE and my bank was very supportive of recruiting. If I didnt land a MF offer I could have always recruited for UMM as well though. If you dont like banking and youre not a prestige whore like I am though, you should definitely just take an investing role if thats the kind of work you prefer

 

You really can’t go wrong here but for what it’s worth, I had that exact decision and went with UMM PE.

 

What UMM firms have analyst programs that you'd take over PJT RSSG/EVR M&A?

 

Yeah, fair point. I'm more so curious about what UMMs have analyst programs. I thought it was mostly just MFs, so curious about what funds do this

 

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