BlackRock - Stay in Investment Firm or Leave for Ibanking Stint?

Question of whether to stay in BlackRock's PAG/AMG (Portfolio, Account) department or interview next summer for another internship at a higher level Investment Bank? BLK is not an ibank, rather an investment firm. Hours here are standard 40-60 hours a week, very relaxed, and great exposure. However, I was wondering how you all would weigh prestige and exit opportunities against a comfortable lifestyle.

(I am summer intern right now)

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Best Response

if your priority is to retire early and you are willing to give up your 20s, work 80-90 hours a week consistently for at least 5 years then maybe you should give banking a shot.

if your prioirity is to have a more balanced lifestyle, maybe stay in the Investment Firm and try to work your way up the ranks there.

if you don't really have any hobbies or a girlfriend and you want to develop more finance skills, a 2 year analyst program will most definitely give you that and more. quite the crash course...your social life will suffer, but there are also some great exit opportunities as well if you work hard and develop a good rep (PE, HF, etc)

but you have to be ready for it. a lot of kids go in thinking I can work hard, but iBanking can be physically and mentally brutal. it was great for me because i learned a ton (coming from a liberal arts college - never had any finance) but it was also 2 of the toughest years of my life.

that's really one of the main reasons i made this website -- i wanted to give an outlet to current iBankers and give prospective iBankers a glimpse into the world of what it is really like. hopefully it accomplishes that and generates some interesting debate along the way.

 

because they are comparing it to IB...40-60 hours seem relaxed when you work 80-100 in <abbr title="investment banking

">IB

Disclaimer: The post above has been made by someone who is not currently employed in IBD, and has not had an interview yet...

 

hey, I have an offer from PAG in Black Solutions right now. Can anyone give me some more insight about it? They seem very technology centered and it's not really BlackRock's main line of biz. Does this seem wise?

Also, I don't know what you mean relaxed. PAG works 80+ hours a week.

 

I had a question about BlackRock Solutions center and if anyone had any opinion about the hours, work, etc? I am just wondering if the work would get mundane after a while and if its too much technology oriented. This position is the general BlackRock solutions center and I do have an engineering background but want to learn finance along the way.

Thanks

 

BlackRock is a very solid investment management firm with great reputation. Its merger with/acquisition by Merrill has increased its worldwide reputation tremendously. Also, at IB, you are paid to do; at IM, you are paid to think.

 

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