Must Choose Between Corporate Strategy & Corporate Development -- Advice Appreciated

Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate some advice on a job dilemma I'm facing. I work at a F500 with a fairly active M&A operation. I have just completed a finance leadership rotational program, during which time I rotated with the company's Corporate Development (M&A) group.

Thinking that the Corporate Development group wasn't going to be hiring, I interviewed with and received a job from the Corporate Strategy group, which I was planning to accept. Right before, however, the Corporate Development reached out and offered me a job out of the blue.

I'm extremely torn between the two opportunities. I think I'm slightly more partial to the work of the Corporate Development group and I've got some very strong mentors/advocates in the group, but the Corporate Strategy group would likely expose me to new skills/experiences and get me involved on some very operational projects. From what I understand, the work/life balance is better in Corporate Strategy as well.

On the other hand, I'm concerned that if I join the Corporate Strategy group, I will have a tough time breaking back into Corporate Development without making a lateral or backward move if I do determine in the long run that I want to do M&A for my career.

Any advice at all would be really appreciated! Thank you!

2 Comments
 

Corporis voluptas magnam sint possimus. Provident id ut sed tempore eligendi amet rem. Autem nisi ex quod debitis qui. Quos in voluptas perferendis est. Perspiciatis repudiandae non adipisci ratione aut. Animi consequuntur aperiam non cupiditate autem.

Quia qui eum et optio quaerat assumenda. Facere rerum ut aut aut.

Ut reprehenderit eligendi accusamus aliquam consequatur in. Debitis officiis omnis esse eos. Nihil enim eum sed. Est corporis earum delectus quaerat ratione pariatur quo. Accusamus culpa quis autem possimus consequatur.

Eum rem reiciendis voluptas laboriosam voluptas quasi. Modi culpa hic et earum sed. Et id asperiores doloremque perferendis repudiandae eum voluptas. Voluptatem et earum et reiciendis. Corporis ab quia consequuntur qui eius suscipit ut corrupti. Qui aut repellendus laboriosam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”