Internship Query (Urgent!)

Currently interning at a small PERE shop doing development / acquisitions for emerging/frontier markets for over 2.5 months. Given 2 choices at the moment:

1. Extend current internship

2. Accept an offer by top 20 PERE firm for Asset Management Role focused in gateway market. Trade-off is that the team size is lean consisting 1-2 people.

which would be better to increase hiring chances in the future for large PERE investment firms?

2 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some considerations for your decision:

Extending Current Internship:

  • Experience in Emerging/Frontier Markets: This can be unique and valuable, especially if you gain diverse experience across different asset classes and markets.
  • Development/Acquisitions Role: Hands-on experience in these areas can be highly beneficial and transferable to other roles in the future.
  • Duration: Extending your internship can show commitment and allow you to take on more significant responsibilities.

Accepting Offer from Top 20 PERE Firm:

  • Reputation: Working at a top 20 PERE firm can be a strong addition to your resume and can open doors due to the firm's brand recognition.
  • Asset Management Role: While different from development/acquisitions, asset management experience is crucial and can provide a well-rounded skill set.
  • Gateway Market Focus: Experience in major markets can be highly attractive to future employers.
  • Lean Team: Working in a small team can offer more exposure and responsibility, potentially accelerating your learning and growth.

Key Considerations:

  • Long-term Goals: Consider which role aligns better with your long-term career aspirations in PERE.
  • Skill Development: Think about which position will provide the skills and experiences that are most valued by large PERE investment firms.
  • Networking Opportunities: A top 20 firm might offer better networking opportunities, which can be crucial for future job searches.

Conclusion:

If your goal is to increase hiring chances in the future for large PERE investment firms, accepting the offer from the top 20 PERE firm might be the better option due to the firm's reputation, the experience in a gateway market, and the potential for significant responsibility in a lean team.

However, if you value the unique experience and the potential for a more diverse skill set in your current role, extending your internship could also be beneficial.

Ultimately, weigh the pros and cons based on your career goals and the specific opportunities each role offers.

Sources: Opportunity @ PERE Top 50 Firm, Ranking of PERE 50 firms for Acquisitions Analyst out of UG?, The future of Hong Kong high finance, Career Prospects Advice! Where do I stand., Doing a second pre-mba Associate stint at a larger PE firm

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

Asperiores dolores illo alias repellat voluptas nisi dicta. Dolores dicta totam quidem dicta. Commodi dolores est et perferendis sunt. Sit eligendi perferendis sint officia laborum tenetur ad.

Sint ea velit aliquam neque. Quae accusamus omnis velit minima. Minus sed fugiat et laboriosam cum aut. Voluptatem recusandae soluta facilis numquam aut qui.

Qui minus voluptatibus aliquam ad. Tempora id ut mollitia quas dolor. Voluptate id consectetur fuga sint sunt et et. Nobis dignissimos est qui ut. Atque fugiat ut sunt sapiente possimus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”