Renege a MF Credit SA offer for IBD SA offer?

I accepted a MF credit (think Ares, Bain, GSO) offer, signed an at-will contract a few months ago. Recently, was offered a classic IB position from GS.

To add-on, the concern mainly revolves around difficulties of lateraling from top BB to desirable MF from a non-target. Thought that it'd be easier to lateral between MFs than BB to MF (competing against candidates from targets.)

Would like to also hear monkeys who have seen consequences of reneging on a MF offer. What's the pros and cons of reneging? Given that the long term goal is to end up at buy-side and skewing toward work life balance (3-5 years down the road.) Most importantly, what's your view of my experience (2 MF credit investing roles, worked on 2-3 transactions) vs. a kid from BB/EB banking SA for FT banking/MF equity gig?

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"Prospect in IB-M&A" I accepted a MF credit (think Ares, Bain) offer, signed an at-will contract a few months ago. Recently, was offered a classic IB position from GS.

To add-on, the concern mainly revolves around difficulties of lateraling from top BB to desirable MF from a non-target. Thought that it'd be easier to lateral between MFs than BB to MF (competing against candidates from targets.)

Would like to also hear monkeys who have seen consequences of reneging on a MF offer. What's the pros and cons of reneging? Given that the long term goal is to end up at buy-side and skewing toward work life balance (3-5 years down the road.)

"Prospect in IB-M&A" Do not freaking do this... you will be blacklisted by the firm, a MF at that. Finance is a small world and when you fuck the big players they will not think twice to squash your career.

Probably wouldn't be able to work at that firm again but idk how or why they would actively "squash your career". Obviously, don't send some rude email to them that pisses them off or wait until the day before the internship to tell them, and just don't update LinkedIn until FT. I went to a top target and actually knew a couple of people who reneged, and others who were willing to if they got something better, and they're all doing well. Of course, if you want to keep the possibility of working there in the future, you can try to do FT IB recruiting after credit SA, but that's your gamble to decide on.

 

Thanks for the insights. What’s your take on whether this worth reneging - for someone who knows for sure that doesn’t want to end up in banking down the road?

 
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Don’t do it, you can pretty easily switch from MF credit to BB IB after you SA. Not worth burning bridges and the risk of people finding out. Finance is a small world but large-cap PE is an even smaller one.

 

SB+1. Thanks for the insights but a bit surprised to hear that it will offer greater pays vs. the equity side. Lower stress and better work/life balance for sure. What's your view on opportunities down the road with the MF credit offer? In terms of growth, exit potentials (to other MFs, HFs, or banking)? Thanks

 

You should always have credit and distressed investing roles available to you as credit guys are more capital structure and structuring experts. That’s way more relevant / on topic with Covid and will have a better ratio of supply of people with the skill set vs demand for roles. Traditional buyout PE will be a lot more sharp elbows as that space is quite crowded and performance will be bad near term

 

I don't have specific insight on reneging, but as always I'd be cautious on reneging to move between big firms. No, the MF won't drop GS as a client, but all it takes is for an MD and Partner to somehow land on the topic of your name and that could be it. Especially when you go MF -> GS, you're more disposable at GS as they hire a larger class. Will the above scenario happen? Maybe not, but I'm not sure I could live with the fear. Finance is a small world and yes people will be assholes for no reason.

As far as career wise, if you want to do credit, then definitely start in credit and save yourself that time (and stress) of re-recruiting after banking. Just make sure you know what exact role you'll be doing in credit, as "credit" means a lot of things. You don't wanna end up doing direct lending or investment grade if your dream is distressed.

Finally, being a non-target definitely makes it harder for you to lateral FT as FT recruiting is very networking based. But in terms of SA jobs to have, MF credit is a great thing to have on your resume. You just need to make sure it gets looked at and not auto-cut by HR.

 

Thanks for the break-down. Right, as my main concern revolves around FT lateral from banking to MF from a non-target. Chances are looking slim... To you other point of HR, what's your view of my experience (2 MF credit investing roles, worked on 2-3 transactions) vs. a kid from BB/EB banking SA for FT banking gig?

 

Hard to pinpoint what each bank / HR at bank will exactly screen for, but some criteria my bank screens for in their FT process is GPA, previous experience, and school, with the major exception of course being if you are referred. Obviously banks prefer those with prior banking experience for FT hires, but MF credit experience is still a great thing to have. What's really more important here is if you can land an interview, since FT recruiting is seriously network-based. Some firms put interviews on website, while some others run the process discreetly. I think HR cut like 60-75% of FT apps from our FT process. If you can develop good connections and explain why you want to transition to IB from credit and you're a good fit then you may get an interview.

 

The offer speaks volumes about your capability. Take the MF as that'll differentiate you come recruiting cycle. You'll get the same looks as the banking guys

 

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