At the crossroads

Hey everyone,

Looking for some advice here on what career path to decide between.

I've got two paths to choose from. I've received an offer for an IBD as an analyst intern (unpaid) for an amazing boutique with great deal flow and a culture that fits well with me. Even though it is unpaid, there is a high probability of getting a FT offer. The MD mentioned that they were "understaffed" and "needed some help" and wanted the candidate to go through a trial period of working for a few months before going full-time to get a sense of my work ethic.

I also have the opportunity to work for a hedge fund as an analyst. But this isn't investment/research based. This is a FT position and the duties are more towards the marketing and investor relations side. The pros here are that I could actually get paid and perhaps get my CFA and CAIA and try to transition myself over to the investment side after some time. This is a small hedge fund but has been growing precipitously.

Let me know what you guys think and what I should try from here.

-Praetor

4 Comments
 
Best Response

I would go with the full-time offer...

Typically hedge funds / private equity hire for "fit" or potential, so if you were already offered a position, they obviously like you enough and see that you would be able to work alongside them. So, if it is a growing fund like you say, you could be offered a more investment / research oriented position in the future as they expand especially if you're taking strides towards CFA or CAIA.

I can also say from experience, taking an internship with hopes of going on full-time doesn't always work out well...there's a lot that can change in a short period of time at boutiques. I took an internship with the opportunity to go full-time if I performed well and a month into the internship, the two VPs i worked for left the company, and the firm merged with another company, which cut hiring needs dramatically. Just my opinion.

 

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