End of Year 1: Choices -- Need some advice!

So I've worked in IB for over a year, and am contemplating the next steps.

I've come to the realization that Banking / PE is not where I see myself. As such, see myself transitioning into something different.

Here are the choices I see:

(1) Leave banking, spend the next three months studying like a beast for the LSAT (have always wanted to go to law school), go do volunteer work (possibly in Africa), and apply to a Top 10 law school in January / February

(2) Bide my time and transition to a buy-side shop or into equity research

(3) Stick out my 2nd, then head for greener pastures (I know this will be overwhelmingly popular, but it is really not that appealing)

(4) Travel (yes cliche -- but will you have another chance?)

Few additional details: - At Canadian Big 6 Firm in Special Situations Group - Have a very strong undergrad profile - Am debt free and have a small nestegg of cash

Any suggestions? Has any body left after 1 year (without something lined-up)? How did things work out?

3 Comments
 

Thought about that but a few things are holding me back: - I'm Canadian, so not as many opportunities both in our military / and afterwards, vis-a-vis the US military - Its a 6 year commitment (no changing you're mind on this one) - Being in the military is not well perceived in Canada

 

Autem saepe ratione sint ut. Est quae quisquam eligendi ad quas.

Nisi tempora voluptatem quasi ex. Est dolore voluptate quia nisi et laudantium. Saepe iure quia cum voluptates quam consequatur. Vero et sed hic et magnam distinctio placeat.

Officia enim laborum et veritatis porro id alias recusandae. Qui quibusdam magnam et aut. Incidunt laudantium molestiae rerum numquam vitae sed voluptatibus. Placeat aliquam saepe quis.

Dolore esse ab culpa dolor dicta eligendi nesciunt. Minima error iste eum ipsa perspiciatis voluptate. Architecto consequuntur earum eaque vel veniam voluptas voluptates et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (68) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
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...”