Chose the Wrong SA Offer - Any advice?

While I was deciding on my SA offers, I think I got a little too hung up on culture based on the opinion of a few folks and wound up making a mistake. Both offers were from top BBs, but one of the groups was Top 3 and the other was maybe 5 or 6 in the industry. The location, pay, and prestige were better at the Top 3 group, but I went with the smaller group thinking that I liked the senior bankers and might get more responsibility early on. I was told some horror stories about the top group being harsh, but now I realize that any top group will be harsh and that the hours at this top group are known to be better due to its size.

Now I'm basically pissed at myself for listening to people who aren't even in the industry yet and wound up turning down a shitload of money in a great location with a top group. Has anyone ever made this mistake? Honestly, I didn't know how important being in a top group was until I started reading the forums on this site.

If anyone has made a similar mistake, do you have any advice? Did you wind up trying to switch groups within the firm for FT? Do you guys think that there's any hope recruiting again for FT with the current market?

 
Best Response

Just pick the top company in the region of the field you are entering. It is more important than picking the biggest global bank. For example, if you are going into IBD, it's not always best to pick GS, MS, JPM, Citi, and UBS, despite their being 5 of the largest global investment banks. I say if your group is one of the best in the region of the field you are entering, than you are fine.

Also, you mentioned you 'turned down a shitload of money.' Considering that you only received a SA offer, it is hard to believe that this difference is really a 'shitload'. You don't need to be worrying too much about a few thousand dollars.

In general, if you are at a bank which is strong in the region of a field you are entering, than you should be fine.

 

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