EY Parthenon Singapore VS Kearney

Hi there, 

First of all, congrats to your offers - this is a nice problem to have and you can't really go wrong ! Here are some of my thoughts on your questions..

Re 1: how is the EYP FSO team in Singapore? such as brand, exit, work life balance, project types. 

Having worked in SG, I can say that brand and exit opportunities for EYP are quite decent roughly comparable with ATK - it's definitely possible to move up the ladder to MBB. In terms of work life balance, it varies quite a bit, but would expect it to be slightly better than in Shanghai (I used to also intern for ATK in Shanghai actually). In terms of projects, I don't have full visibility, but if you'd like to learn more / get a candid view, I can connect you to a friend in my network, who was in the exact EYP team recently.  

Re 2: whether Kearney enjoys a better branding than EYP? does it matter in the long run, exit (MBB / MBA)? 

It's fair to say that Kearny has a slight edge in terms of branding, however it will be immaterial for both MBB and MBA exit opportunities. For both types, EYP brand will be attractive enough to open the doors. 

Re 3: Whether is it good to start from a broader industry rather than focusing on Financial services?

There are pros and cons for both - if you would like to have wider range of exit options, it typically makes sense to explore different industries in the initial 1-2 years, before you start to specialize. Note that the higher you climb the career ladder (esp. Manger level onwards), the more you will get locked in / the more subject matter expertise is expected of you. On the other hand, early specialization often comes with benefits such as more support from senior levels, faster career progression / promotions, smoother work live due to better credibility with clients. For some people, those factors outweigh their interest in a specific topic / industry, hence they commit early. That said, really depends on what you care about most.

Finally, my personal take is that it may also make sense to consider the geographic lens - if you are aiming for an international career, working in Singapore for a while will be the better choice, as mobility towards top tier MBAs, global MBB offices is typically much higher than from China. 

Hope this helps - feel free to reach out via PM if you'd like to learn more about above or about working in SG.

Regards, Andi 

Hi there,

I think the difference between these two offers in terms of city/country, type of work, etc. is enough to warrant you “ignoring” brand/exit opportunities in a sense.

First, the difference between EYP and Kearney isn't so great as to be the key deciding factor (in my view).

Rather, I urge you to really think about both offers! Reflect on what you know about the offices through both your interviews and networking. If you feel you don't have a good understanding of what it's like at either, you need to pick up the phone and talk to more people!

Trust your gut in terms of the type of work you want to do, the city you want to be in, and the type or people/culture you want to work with. This will impact your career (i.e. success in the role and promotions) more than the difference between the two brands!

Good luck with the choice…by the way, you can't go wrong with 2 great offers :)

Both are good teams and good brands. Given that EY-P is valuing you more and recognizing your seniority, it is going to give you international experience, and you are going to deepen your expertise in a specific industry it feels like a much better deal, and that you will also be more poised for success in there, i.e., better return and lower risk level.

The brand is a bit less well known in the corporate world, but similarly recognized amongst MBB.

If you like financial services, I think the best option is clear.

As it relates to brand perception between the two firms for an MBA, it will be less about brand and more about what story and experience you can craft. 

Dear candidate,

both options are great. EYP is a great brand and will certainly enable you to apply to MBB later, should this be a concern of yours. Given that they offer you a senior position, they seem to really value you and hopefully you will enjoy your role, be challenged and feel rewarded. I would go for that, although of course it is up to you and both are potentially great options.

Best regards,