FIG is paradise

Hi all,

Without giving too many details I’m currently a first year working in fig at a MM (depositories). My goal has never been to work in FIG, it’s just where I ended up getting placed, and I’m hoping to exit to a non-FIG buy side role after a 2 year analyst stint. I think it’s important to stay in my current role for at least a year, but I’m ~5 months in and already thinking about what comes next. I’m looking to set myself up for success, whether that’s networking with the right groups or training to understand non-FIG technicals / LBO / accr/dil models better. I’ve started to think about potential options for after my first year and boiled it down to 4:

1. Stay in the MM FIG role and try to recruit directly into MM PE (non FIG) after 2 years after having done an immense amount of LBO / PE prep (worried this will be a very difficult uphill battle)

2. Try to recruit internally after a year to a TMT / fintech / lev fin / or another more standard group, although I’m worried I’ll step on a lot of toes in the process of requesting a change

3. Network my ass off and take some WSP modeling courses to try to land a role at a MM (more realistic) or BB (less realistic) in a less niche group

4. Stay focused on my current group / role, become a top performing analyst, and try to lateral to BB FIG and exit to PE directly from there (I’ve heard some BB FIG exits are great depending on the group / analyst)

Since I can’t really talk to the seniors / other analysts in my group about this I would love to hear thoughts, all opinions are welcome.