Which firm would you choose?

In theory, if you got an offer from H&F in SF and Sycamore in NYC and you wanted to live in NYC, which would you choose? Would it be worth staying at H&F for 2 years in an unideal location then trying to move? Curious to get your thoughts

 

Two very different firms and many factors at play here …

What style of investing do you like better (they are very different), which sectors, what size of portfolio companies?

What is drawing you to New York and how big is that a pull?

Do you want to do an MBA?

Where do you like the people more?

How important (if at all) is work life balance?

Those are two really competitive seats, so you must be doing something right to get them both and will make the best decision for you (for what it’s worth , H&F is not a “no brainer” here as you might think, know people who turned them down due to answers to some of those questions above).

 

As others are saying, really up to you and how you weigh your location preferences vs. fund preferences. Are you going to hate SF, be leaving behind a gf/your entire friend group and be miserable in SF? Or is NY just the long-term plan and you don't mind trying somewhere else for a bit.

It's not always easy to get your PE firm to re-locate you so if you absolutely want to be in NYC, I would take that job

 

H&F is much larger / institutional, whereas Sycamore is still a relatively lean team and only on their 3rd fund. Hard to compare, but both would be great places to learn and get exposure to top tier investors. If all else is equal to you, then location (either SF or NYC) makes sense to value.

 

In an era where the future of PE and particularly tech PE looks this uncertain, I’d stick with the geography in which you will be happiest since you have two brand name firms in your lap. Like, maybe the exit opps will be marginally better at H&F but if you have meaningful ties to NY don’t throw them away over this.

 

Could you see yourself in H&F and doing well there? I’ve seen people uproot themselves to the west coast only to hate the new job they had and lateral within a year 

 

Heard Sycamore's returns aren't that great and also that one of the founding partners left last year. On the other hand, I've talked with a few of the associates and they say that the culture is pretty good -- everyone is friendly, easy to work with, and hang out with outside of work. 

 

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