2yrs in Corp Fin + 2yrs IB + MBA = Sweet PE postion?

I'm about 1.5 years into my corp fin gig out of undergrad and now I'm pondering whether I should jump to IB (atleast try to jump) after 6 months or so. I'm switching to a new role right now and would like to get this experience for atleast 6 more months.

I work for one of the major oil companies (good brand name) so I'm thinking if I should just stick it out here for a total of 4 years then go for MBA or should I do the 2corpfin+2IB route.

I know for a fact that it will be unlikely that I would be able to get into a BB or even a elite Boutique down in Houston. Would it be worth it (for MBA purposes) to go work for a small boutique for 2 years after my 2 year corp fin stint?

Thanks.

 
shorttheworld:
youre not gonna move from corp fin to a PE Firm. hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighly unlikely. even mroe so from rice lol

Yeah I knew that much man. I'm just saying, If I choose to go to an east coast school or wherever, would my chances be better if I had that IB experience or not...I know at rice I would be ok but the east coast schools might toss my app if they see some no name boutique.

Just a thought on a shitty monday morning...

 

it's always better to have the "transaction experience". Corp fin is nice and all but are you involved in the corp dev function at all? If your main responsibility is financial reporting or projecting out internal models...then it might be worth your time to go for a ib gig.

however, this is assuming you want to go into PE as your end-goal, which is never guaranteed and you might be hugely disappointed in 4 years given the competition i see on the hiring market right now

 

Yes, PE is my near term end goal (if that makes any sense). I don't do anything transactional here. I'm going to jump to IB hopefully and get that transaction experience. If I can't get into PE right after MBA it wouldn't be the end of the world but that is the goal at the moment. My whole thing is that I don't want to ruin my chances at a good MBA program by getting grouped with the IB applicants because I would lose that competition due to the weak brand name. If I stay with my current company, I have a higher chance of getting in because of the brand name.

Thanks for your response.

 

look at it this way, keeping ur brand name u have a higher shot at a better MBA program (you'd also be competing against other corp-fin guys instead of bankers), but while going into a boutique IB would diminish your MBA prospects (probably limit you to Texas and other down south areas), the experience (if good) would increase your chances at post-MBA IB/Corp Dev. PE is highly unlikely in either scenario but I think you may be able to go post-MBA IB then PE easier than 4 yrs Corp Fin > Good MBA > PE

 
BigBucks:
look at it this way, keeping ur brand name u have a higher shot at a better MBA program (you'd also be competing against other corp-fin guys instead of bankers)

Not sure if I agree with this.

I don't have first hand knowledge, but from what I've heard, some schools group by pre-MBA experience by industry, not necessarily by job function. ie, non-profit vs finance/acct vs marketing vs engineering vs etc etc

Sometimes lies are more dependable than the truth.
 

I understand PE right after MBA would be unlikely for sure but further down the line post-MBA I would be going for PE. I also think that Corp Fin > IB > MBA > IB > PE would be a much faster route to PE than Corp Fin > MBA > IB > PE.....would you agree or disagree? I may be overthinking this but I really feel like I'm digging myself a hole right now staying at this energy company, I just feel like my career trajectory is completely off at the moment...

 

Given how unlikely PE is post MBA for those without PE experience pre-MBA (even IBers) I think you are better off staying with your brand name, shooting for M7 MBA, then going into IB, then PE after that (if you still think it's your goal by then). I think CorpFin->IB->MBA->PE is just as unlikely as CorpFin->Better MBA->PE. Plan for needing to attend the better MBA and doing an associate stint for a while in IB.

 
Boothorbust:
Given how unlikely PE is post MBA for those without PE experience pre-MBA (even IBers) I think you are better off staying with your brand name, shooting for M7 MBA, then going into IB, then PE after that (if you still think it's your goal by then). I think CorpFin->IB->MBA->PE is just as unlikely as CorpFin->Better MBA->PE. Plan for needing to attend the better MBA and doing an associate stint for a while in IB.
Definitely agree. You have a shot at M7 MBA given 3-4 years of brand name corp fin. As someone else said, it'd be much better if you also got some corp dev experience. Realistically top PE won't be happening regardless of what you do at this point. MM PE is definitely within reach though.
 
Best Response
pacman007:
If for instance say I do jump into IBD at some boutique after 2 years at this oil company, I feel like I wouldn't necessarily be grouped with the bankers because I would have had that 2 years of Corp Fin. I almost feel as if that would bring some diversity to my application...
Maybe . . . It really depends on how you want to spin your story. I personally think the following is a better story: "I spent 4 years at a major oil company learning the ins and outs of Corporate Finance and the oil industry. Now I want to get an MBA to focus on financial and transactional skillset, with the goal of moving to energy IBD, and possibly one day focusing on private equity in the energy industry." That, to me, ties the MBA in well with your goals and makes it clear where and why the degree "fits". Rather than just going to a mid-tier IBD where you will get some transaction experience but you will be seen as a banker who wants to return to banking (because they won't believe you if you say you want to go straight to PE).

Just my two cents.

 

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