Figuring out which career to do in finance.

Hey WSO,

I’m a rising sophomore at a non-target school and currently involved in my school’s finance club. Over the past year, I’ve been doing a lot of research into high finance careers, and (maybe a little too early) landed on investment banking as my “goal.” But now that I’ve dug deeper and gained a bit more exposure, I’m starting to question whether IB is truly the best fit for me.

I’m hoping to get some genuine advice and insight into the broader landscape of high finance careers. Particularly how to think about roles in asset management, equity research, corporate finance/FP&A, or even financial analyst roles outside of traditional IB/PE tracks.

Here’s a quick breakdown of where I’m at: • Strengths: I enjoy research and writing, I’m analytical and organized, and I like working through messy problems. I’ve also found that I enjoy working independently or in small teams more than large, too-high-pressure group settings. • What I’m looking for: I want a career that feels mentally stimulating, ideally with a good mix of qualitative and quantitative work. Prestige matters somewhat (being honest), but long-term fulfillment and fit matter more. I’m okay with long hours if the work is meaningful. • Confusions: I find networking overwhelming, and am scared to mess up on calls. I feel like I’m constantly behind compared to peers aiming for IB who already have internships lined up or polished stories. I’m also unsure about how to actually explore different career paths beyond just reading job descriptions online.

If you’ve worked in any of these roles or gone through something similar, I’d really appreciate hearing how you navigated the decision-making process and how to actually figure out what suits you before junior recruiting season kicks into full gear.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I really appreciate it.

• I’m international 🙂‍↕️