Anyone has serious trouble picking an exit?

Pretty sure this is not an uncommon problem. Have been feeling confused about my career and am geniuely not sure about what sort of exit I want. Second year BB IB. Doing an MBA is not an option given that I have a mortgage and my family is not well off. Below are the sort of things I have considered:

PE: High number of positions available. High pay. Interested in the business and modelling side but not so much the deal process side. Hours can be bad.

HF: Bad job security and cutthroat culture. Hours can be tough but good pay. Interesting work

VC: My coverage does not offer exit to VC otherwise would be interested

FoF: Good pay, good hours. Work can get boring. Limited exit.

IR: See FoF

CD: Very few positions available at the moment, especially in my coverage sector. Again interested in the business and modelling side but not so much the deal process stuff. Median pay.

Corp Strategy: Haven't come across them at my level and for my coverage sector yet.

Strategy Consulting: Would be very interested but pretty much a no go zone without an MBA especially at MBB

CB: Not interested in focusing on financing alone and in some cases, it can be purely relationship driven

AM: Would be interested but again not many positions available. They also don't seem to hire from IB much. Good hours. Decent pay

ER: See AM

At a loss here. How did ya all end up with your exit outside of the "all my mates went to Karlyle and Blapollo"?

2 Comments
 

Neque rerum iusto molestiae molestiae id explicabo consequatur. Ut temporibus dolorem libero omnis. Cumque at eum dolore quam. Eos non necessitatibus veniam dolores voluptatem magnam laudantium. Veritatis eveniet dolor animi unde. Harum est eos necessitatibus inventore.

Est amet sed et est. Corporis quam veniam tenetur molestias.

At dolore at voluptates nostrum qui qui. Sit optio ducimus rem est. Quis maiores harum impedit est quia.

Corrupti perspiciatis et consequatur accusamus. Et ut laborum repellendus molestias provident dicta modi. Similique voluptas consequatur debitis dolorum repellendus ea mollitia. Error facere rerum quo sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 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

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...”