IB vs PE vc Consulting

Hello All,

I am new to the forum and am trying to get a handle on exactly what I want to do for my last summer internship. I am a Finance student from a non-target school in the Midwest, have a full year of PE real estate investment experience (internship), and a 3.17 Cumulative GPA and 3.57 Major (I was a semi-professional athlete/engineering student for my first year of college and didn't do well that year). My end goal is to start my own PE Fund, but I am trying to figure out the best job to get several years of experience with before setting out on my own.

I will graduate December of 2016 and have one more summer internship. Currently I am putting a lot of time into tracking down Investment Bankers at middle market firms to try to get my name/resume into the hat for a Summer Analyst position.

However, I also MIGHT have the opportunity to intern with a small PE firm, a small IB, or a consulting firm (McGladrey or PwC). All of these positions are in Des Moines because no one recruits to large metros from my school. I could also go back and work in RE PE shop that I interned with before.

What do the denizens of WSO think of my situation? Where should I focus my networking efforts?

Thanks!

2 Comments
 
  • focus on what you like the most. Group, fit and the experience you will get there will be critical. They are all "good jobs". If your goal is to start a PE fund, then IBD to start off is a no brainer given your other options (t3 consulting vs small buyside firm). The only exception would be if the PE you get is large AUM and/or credible, then I would take PE > IB
 

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