Corporate Finance at FAANG or Breaking into IB?

I received an offer to work at FAANG doing corporate finance where I am guaranteed a job there after graduation in the 85-90k range starting out, but I am being pushed by those around me to break into IB at a semi-target where I already have a lot of connections, but would definitely have to grind. I don’t feel strongly about one more than the other but I don’t want to regret anything down the line, and I am curious as to other people’s opinions. I want to make a comfortable amount of money out of college and have potential to make way more. I also value job security and career growth. If I go with the FAANG offer I will focus my college years on Finance and Tech, but with IB I’d be more focused on networking and technicals.

5 Comments
 

I worked for 4 years in IT Corporate Finance and it was a cushy light hours job, but I was kind of alone amongst many people who weren't finance literate. So much of my job was walking through executives what financials meant and what were the financial implications of making certain business moves or personnel decisions.

I think at this time in your life it would be good to go the IB route now, and maybe later in life go for the cushy Corp Fin Director role. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

CA, so similar HCOL but I guess better work life balance. I am just trying to understand if the IB grind is even worth it salary wise. Like if you’re working 80-100 hours a week, I feel like the hourly salary is low/may not be worth it.

 

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