Accept offer vs MBA down the line

So I have a few years of work experience already, and my plan was to apply to MBA programs next year and recruit as an associate. I live in a regional city and would be a good target for these roles coming out of an MBA program and feel confident that was the route I should take. However, I applied to a few IB analyst roles here at smaller banks, and after going through the process received an offer at one. I was surprised to get the interview in the first place since I’d be on the older side for an analyst, although my experience is pretty applicable. This bank is on the newer side in the city, and I haven’t seen any deal flow from them. They are a low tier international bank, at least to my untrained eye (Nomura/BNP/HSBC/SocGen). My worry is that if I take this, I’d be pigeonholed into a crappy bank without good experience, lower comp, and the culture wasn’t the best either, although possibly more lax environment from lack of deals. Also that my best hope would be to lateral into a tier 2 bank down the road, which I also worry about given my unconventional background. Vs going the MBA route and having a very solid shot at a top tier bank. Granted I would get to forego studying for GMAT, MBA etc, which is obviously a massive plus, and I would have my foot in the door. Another huge fear is the shop could close from lack of business, but no idea regarding how viable that is. Thoughts appreciated. Tell me if I’m being crazy or if I should do it just to get IB on the resume.

4 Comments
 

Haven’t taken GMAT yet, but because it’s a regional office, they don’t recruit M7s as hard and recruit a few specific regional MBA programs pretty heavily that are lower ranked. Pretty confident I can get in with my background.

 

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