Is 6 months of M&A Experience worth it?
Have a full time buyside offer (investing role, but not buyout private equity) that starts in July 2026, but just secured another full time M&A offer that starts January 2026.
The two choices are: 1) get 6 months of M&A experience (and then quit after 6 months to hop over to buy-side) or 2) should I just stick with my full time buyside offer? I would like to stay in my buyside seat long term, but having IB skillset could provide optionality in the future.
How bad will it look on a resume to work at M&A for 6 months and then leave (looks like I can't "handle the IB experience"? Or will future employers view the IB experience, even though it was short, as a boost?
6 months of being a first year analyst isn't really gonna get you an "IB skillset" and yeah the first thing people will think of when they see a 6 month IB stint is man this guy is a pussy.
go for it, the 6 month IB stint is respectable and still gives you chance to go to buyside (which is what you want long term anyways). the way i see it, if you can get there faster, no need to even stay the full 2 years. things have changed nowadays
You could consider other ways of presenting it, such as an extended internship or not including it at all. You're unlikely to get much credit for it anyway. The benefits as I see it are (i) getting some experience so you can hit the ground running (you'll become better at Excel in those 6 months) and (ii) getting some cash in the door.
On a more personal level, I do feel sorry for the candidate that won't be getting that role because you're making a stopover. And the people that invest time in your career / build a relationship with you when you've already planned to leave after six months. I don't care much about the firm though, they are typically ruthless themselves.
In many years time, you may also look back and simply regret not spending that time seeing the world with no responsibility. Personally, travelling would be my chosen path in your situation. Coming from someone 10+ years into it.
Bumping this, shouldn’t even be a consideration. Go and travel, get into the best physical condition you can etc
6 months won’t prepare you for the buyside
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