Repo Assistant or Mutual Fund

I'm looking for some career advice regarding my next move. My ultimate career goal is to become a trader/PM at a FICC HF and I was curious to know which role that I have been offered would set me up better for a future lateral into FICC HF analyst role at a HF. My initial thought was to accept a role at the mutual fund (option 2) but after some research, the general consensus seems to be that moving from AM/MF-> HF is highly unlikely given the a HF role would require a different set of skills.  My questions are as follows: Which job should I take and why? What type of exit opportunities would they provide me? What is the difference in the skillset of a research associate at a mutual fund and a hedge fund? And would would accepting the MF role put me in a position down the road to lateral to a HF?

Jobs:

1- FICC/MBS/ABS repo trading assistant @ Small (>15 head count // $3.2 billion AUM) HF

-The position is focused on supporting the trading and Repo funding desk but requires flexibility to engage in various market and investment research activities as needs require

-The position will support agency MBS and repo trading

-The position has the potential for growth into a trading role over time for a motivated individual who excels in the TA position

2- Investment research Associate (FICC focused) @ ($750 AUM) Mutual Fund

- In-depth knowledge of trading various types of securities. Research skill set across a broad range of assets with a focus on fixed income (mutual fund selection, ETF, Futures, and individual equites). Buy side trading

- Ability to coordinate several factors affecting the portfolio.

- High understanding of derivative products.

- Operational support such as data acquisition, data attribution, organization, trading verification & execution analysis, trading programing, and task-oriented focus.