Would you personally do it?
I’m a 3rd year analyst at a mega developer. It’s been good, but the last couple months have been rough.
I am closing in an opportunity to join a small growing no name student housing developer as an associate, the firm is only 10 years old and 25 people.
What repercussions will I have later in my career for making this move will it even matter?
My end game is to open up my own shop and do my own deals.
If you can hold out for Associate to join somewhere as a VP or VP to join somewhere as an MD or EVP, that would be better.
I mean, only on WSO does name/size/prestige get so much love and attention.
You should evaluate this deal and firm on its own and how it fits into your career plan. Do you want to do student housing? Are they well capitalized? Do you like the team (I mean you will get to know all 25 pretty darn well)? If you take this move, prepare to stay for awhile. This is the jump you make for work (interestingness/fulfillment) and perhaps balance (maybe better than at mega firm??). This is not a jump you make for "exit ops"
@C.R.E. Shervin makes a good point, you are making a kinda lousy exit for what mega developers can sometimes offer. I would score this as a lateral (I mean does analyst mean much different from associate at a small firm?). That said, the job itself is likely 'better' with more diverse assignments and less structured or 'pigeon holed' as mega firms tend to do. I would agree than in a few years your exit ops will likely better (and job market may be much better).
Personally, I would only do a move like this if I really wanted to join a firm like this because it was on my career path and helps reach the final destination. I would not do because a few rough months. One of the realities of starting at the "mega" type firms is that the early years suck more than they could doing other things. The payoff comes like 5+ years later when you can get jobs people on WSO would kill for. But, that presumes you want those jobs, and all the stress/long-hours they may entail.
If you are really going to happy with a career with this new firm and its field/market, and the thought of progressing up a mega firm makes you want to gouge your eyes out, then take it and don't look back. But, I would be really sure you want that move, because the repercussion is you are not likely to be offered a return ticket to the majors without some serious success, luck, and something to put you back on that path (or maybe a big name MBA, that can be generic cure all, but you likely don't re-enter much higher).
As for end goal of "own shop", I don't want to opine, that can be anything and frankly either path could get you there, but what that shop does could different or identical. Thus, it really shouldn't factor in this decision.
What do you think about a 10-year old firm with already 25 people. seems like not a lot of room to move-up. Thats like an 8 person finance team(CFO, Controller, AP, AR, 2 property accountants) + 3 acquisitions(MD,Director,VP,Analyst), 6 development(MD, VP, 2 PMs, 2 CMs), 1 Human Rescources, The remaining seven are leasing/property management/GC/associate/GC
Also regarding student housing...there will be a reckoning with fewer kids going to colleges.
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