Hey everyone! I’m a 23-year-old woman who has been working at a PE shop for about a year now. Recently, I got an offer from an investment banking team at a middle market company, and I’m totally shocked. The salary bump is massive - we’re talking 67% more money, which seems crazy to me.
I’ve been thinking about making this move for a while because, honestly, the pay in private equity isn’t that amazing when you don’t have much experience yet. Plus, I really want to experience that crazy busy lifestyle that investment bankers are known for. I know the hours will be brutal, but I think I’m prepared for it.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any tips for someone about to start this journey would be awesome. Thanks!
lol wait, you actually want to experience that insane lifestyle? That’s like wanting food poisoning because it sounds interesting. Sure, that 67% bump looks nice until you do the math - you’re making pennies per hour working 80-100 weeks. PE might be boring right now, but at least you still see sunlight. The grass isn’t greener when it’s fertilized with your soul.
Oh please, another one who thinks banking’s some glamorous adventure. You’re already in PE at 23 - you know how many MBA grads would kill for that spot? But sure, throw it away for a middle-market banking gig because the money looks shiny. When you’re making $200/hour at 60 hours vs $150/hour at 90 hours, who’s really winning? Good luck explaining to future employers why you went from PE to banking instead of the normal route.
honestly, PE experience at your age is rare. Most ppl grind through banking first, then struggle to break into PE later. You’ve already cleared the hardest hurdle. why not try negotiating your current comp before jumping ship? banking will always be there, but getting back into PE after leaving? that’s tough.
A 67% raise? That’s incredible! You’re young with energy to burn - perfect time to dive into banking. Go with your gut on this one. Trying different paths now will shape your whole career.
Think hard about this move before jumping. Sure, the money looks great, but you’re basically trading down career-wise. PE pros usually make way more long-term, especially once you get carried interest with seniority. That banking job? It’s a step backward in finance, even with the pay bump. Your PE experience is gold - you’re doing real deal work, managing portfolios, making investment calls. Banking analysts don’t get near that stuff. Plus PE networking is way more exclusive and valuable. Don’t just see this as two options. Use that banking offer as leverage to move up at your current firm or land a better PE role somewhere else.
Been there - left a smaller fund for what looked like a dream job and regretted it for months. That 67% bump sounds amazing, but here’s what nobody tells you: you’ll burn out way faster than expected. I thought I could handle 100-hour weeks too. Three months in, I was falling asleep in client meetings. Your PE role might feel slow, but you’re building real investing skills that’ll pay off big later. Use this offer to talk with your current firm about advancement timeline. Sometimes they don’t know you feel underpaid until you wave another offer at them.
Yeah, that salary bump is tempting, but think bigger picture. PE experience at 23 is gold - you’re learning deal sourcing and getting buy-side exposure most bankers never see. Banking jobs aren’t going anywhere, but breaking into PE later is way harder. That 67% increase looks massive now, but PE comp scales crazy high with experience and carry participation. Plus there’s the lifestyle angle beyond hours - banking means constant client fire drills and last-minute chaos that creates unpredictable stress.
If you really want to explore banking down the road, stick with PE another year to build stronger credentials, then go after bulge bracket firms for maximum optionality.
