7 Comments
 

I must say that both would be great, but I am personally a much bigger fan of investment banking. Point is you really can learn the fundamentals. That said it really most matters what you want to do linger term. Hedge fund is more of the riskier quicker buck. Investment banking is more of the higher brow intellectual career path where long term experience and relationships really matter the most. But at the junior levels, and if you are really just talking about an internship I'd go for the best quality position you can find at the best quality firm.

Also, not sure hedge fund jobs are very good for networking vs investment banking jobs. Just curious where did that come from. I think it totally depends on the firm you are working for and all that.

Good luck and PM me if you need any further guidance.

############ ############ ############ The time is now, seize the day ...
 
wsofan2009I must say that both would be great, but I am personally a much bigger fan of investment banking. Point is you really can learn the fundamentals. That said it really most matters what you want to do linger term. Hedge fund is more of the riskier quicker buck. Investment banking is more of the higher brow intellectual career path where long term experience and relationships really matter the most. But at the junior levels, and if you are really just talking about an internship I'd go for the best quality position you can find at the best quality firm.

Also, not sure hedge fund jobs are very good for networking vs investment banking jobs. Just curious where did that come from. I think it totally depends on the firm you are working for and all that.

Good luck and PM me if you need any further guidance.

couldn't help laughing upon reading "investment banking is more of the higher brow intellectual career path" lol-

 

I guess it is a little Thurston Howell III of me to say. I just really mean that in hedge funds its all about the numbers and in banking it is much more about the relationships longer term. Except if you're running the hedge fund, in which case you'll need to be able to interact with significant new LP investors. Both types of positions are really quite fine and it is totally dependent on the individual.

############ ############ ############ The time is now, seize the day ...
 
Best Response

If you're not 100% sure you want to be in buy-side, take the BB SA route and keep your options open. Otherwise, if you decide to do sell-side, every bank you interview full-time for is going to ask you why you want to do sell-side instead of staying on buy-side.

Also, BB stints are better for networking because the analyst classes are much bigger and you'll get to meet all sorts of people/characters...and after a couple years, those people will branch out to other industries.

HF, on the other hand, might bring on a handful of people from 1-2 schools.

 

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