Stick with M&A boutique or go to MM ER for internship?

Hello,
I'm doing a part-time internship at a regional boutique where I can pursue a summer analyst position. I also have the chance to do an ER internship at a solid MM (PJC/Jefferies/Cowen). I want to hopefully break into M&A advisory at a MM shop or a good boutique post-grad, but I am not opposed to ER. What course would you guys recommend I take?
Thank you

6 Comments
 
Best Response

Can we have the name of the boutique? Not many established ones (Lazard, Moelis) do part-time interns. When you say regional, you mean a boutique with one office, maybe 100 square meter, (in a serviced office - so no sign outside) and a few people in it? If that's the case, take the MM offer - you are moving up the league.

If an established boutique is letting you do a part-time internship during semesters and offering you a SA, that doesn't sound too bad. You can move to ER later (after 2 - 3 years - by that time, you are so bored with M&A that you want to get out). The training at an established boutique is as good (if not better) as those big names.

There was a girl who interned part-time at JPM for 2 years (when she was going to grad school). So you could be interning at one of the big ones.

 

Thanks guys. When I say boutique, I mean it in the sense of a very small firm with 1 office that hustles for around 8 deals a year. It's been a great experience, even just part-time. Like MJK pointed out though, I am certain I'll be asked why I did ER if my real interest is M&A. How would you guys recommend approaching that? I was thinking of saying that I went for the best opportunities presented to me at the best firm.

 

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