Am I an insecure overachiever?

Hi monkeys,

Fortunate enough to secure a Corporate Strategy & M&A internship at an industry I am extremely passionate about after striking out on BB investment banking and MBB consulting interviews. While I really enjoyed meeting everyone in the team, the work they do, I feel like I have 'failed'. Despite the team being composed mainly of ex-bankers and this opportunity being a great "exit opps" for bankers/consultant, I feel the need to re-recruit FT for BB/MBB roles. Can any of the more experienced monkeys help me out on why I feel like this or is this a dumb view I have? Prospects sipping on the "BB/MBB or Bust" Kool-Aid please don't give me your bs...

12 Comments
 

I think you answered your own question at the end of your post - you’re a prospect that drank the kool-aid. Basically all of us were. It hurts to move the goal post but instead of chasing the prestige trap realize those bankers are at your role for a reason. Many here probably want the role you landed after realizing banking is shit. You may not be afforded the optionality from a junior banking / mbb position but you are in a great spot and probably dodged a bullet.

 

Thank you very much AN2, this was exactly what I wanted to hear. I think when you look at WSO, you think that every single kid in GS/JPM/MS/EVR/LAZ and the likes land a sweet PE gig. I didn't know so many people would leave for Corporate Development roles, so I guess I skip the 3 year intensive bootcamp and start from scratch in my own firm (probably will earn much less than my banking counterparts for the first few years but still we'll be earning the same at the current firm).

 

Sorry didn't fully comprehend:
-So do it in terms of stay in your firm and forget about the rest
or
-So do it just re-recruit after your internship?

 

I feel like you're just trying to cope or want people to tell you that your role is a better. The fact is that you did fail. Starting your career in IB/MBB is definitely much better than starting off where you are (in my opinion obviously). You have lower comp, much less optionality, and less "prestige" (which does matter early in your career). 

Look, it's not a bad gig at all, but IB/MBB has its perks and if that's truly what you want, don't settle for something else. 

 

Lol I work in a top group at GS/MS/JPM... and you seem short sighted

Unless you’re a hardo who wants to do PE for life (which frankly is a terrible existence imo from everyone in my group who’s gone to a MF/UMM but to each their own ) for most people Disney or Google etc Corp dev/strategy is a way more interesting, rewarding, and sustainable career path

 

>Lol I work in a top group at GS/MS/JPM

Lol okay, Im at a top EB group, so what? 

> you seem short sighted

Why, because I value greater comp and optionality early on in my career? Like I said, in my opinion starting off in IB is much better. I dont find corp dev interesting, and if I tried it out, I'd at least rather have IB experience under my belt prior to it. If I gunned for IB and struck out from every single firm (like OP), and settled for a different role, then that's failing. Nothing wrong with corp dev if he's actually interested in it, but I'd hate to start off there, especially if it's not a top firm. Im doubting OP is at Google or Disney. Sure, call me a hardo for going into PE after IB, but at least I have the option to try it out. 

 

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