Kinda Lost
Currently a sophomore at a T10, and I honestly feel pretty lost right now.
I kinda hate how early recruiting is because it feels like you have to make decisions about the next 5-10 years of your life before you’ve even had time to figure out what you actually want. But when cash matters, finance feels like the only real option.
I do have a BB CB offer, which I know is a good outcome, but part of me feels like I underperformed. This cycle happened while I had a lot of family/personal stuff going on, and I just wasn’t fully there. Didn’t network at all (which I know, my bad), didn’t prep enough, didn’t get into the top clubs, didn’t interview that well, etc.
Now I’m just lost on what to do. Take the offer and move on? Delay graduation a semester and re-recruit? Try again for FT? Look at Hong Kong? I genuinely don’t know, and even now, I don't know if I want to be in finance for the long run, or which particular aspect of finance I would be interested enough to stay in, since I am so worn out right now and have been looking for ways to reset.
Just looking for some wisdom from the forum and trying to gather a bit more input, if possible. Thanks
Feeling lost is completely normal, especially when you're navigating early recruiting and trying to figure out your long-term career path. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some actionable steps and insights to help you move forward:
1. Take a Step Back and Reflect
2. Evaluate Your Current Offer
3. Consider Re-Recruiting
4. Explore International Opportunities
5. Reset and Recharge
6. Leverage Your Network
7. Keep Your Options Open
Final Thoughts:
It's okay to feel lost—many people do at this stage. The key is to take small, intentional steps to explore your options and gain clarity. Remember, your first job doesn't define your entire career. Use this as an opportunity to learn, grow, and figure out what truly excites you. You've got time, and you're already ahead by seeking advice and reflecting on your next steps.
Sources: Non-target average student declined BB trading ops offer, now having some second thoughts, Guide to Dealing with Competing Offers and Timelines, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/trouble-deciding-which-offer-to-pursue-cb-bb-vs-ma-local-big-four?customgpt=1, Choose Between Two Offers (BB/MBB) - Looking for Advice, Turn down FT BB offer for MBB recruiting??
What do you want out of life?
realistically speaking still trying to figure it out as of now
I think you're too caught up in an idealization of your career trajectory, which makes deviations seem worse than they actually are. The reality is that you have a good 'backup' offer if all else fails, you still have FT recruiting (I think I've also seen a good amount of SA 27 roles still up), and you don't even seem fully set on going into IB (I don't think any sophomore should; to me, this is a good reflection of your character, but who am I). On that last point, I think you can take this as an opportunity to look into other areas of finance or whole other fields altogether. I think IB can be a trap for low-spirited lame-os that want money and prestige but are too lazy to find the hundreds of other jobs that can get them the same thing. I'm not saying you're like this, but any T10 international kid is certainly prone to getting swept up into this way of thinking. My best advice for you is to go for a long walk in nature with a non-quant-finance math or physics or intelligent philosophy major and talk to them about life. Unironically.
Hey man, I’d say first of all definitely take the offer if thats the best one you have on the table as of now. I know that seeing everyone on LinkedIn posting getting IB must be frustrating, but I honestly think you did amazing for not having networked at all. CB isn’t a bad gig at all, and especially at a bulge bracket, you’d probably get paid decently still. Remember you can always leverage this role into a FT offer. Also, other IB opening will be popping up for your cycle throughout the summer and early fall, as some banks do a second process, so may be worth looking into, as you can start networking for that now. As someone who worked in IB for almost three years, the job is nothing special at the analyst/associate level, which is the farthest 90% of people get before leaving the industry. You are in a better position than most, as some people are going to have to recruit for FT without having a role to fall back on if it doesn’t work out. You do, so I’d say you’re fine. Also just curious is this commercial or corporate banking?
It's a corporate banking gig. Thanks so much for the advice. I will definitely keep an eye out for these openings and do full-time recruiting if I don't get anything else and feel like CB isn't the best place for me.
Re: Hong Kong are you int'l Chinese or Korean or something? O/w will be tough for IBD. I'm not really the type to consider delaying grad but honestly a reasonable strategy if you can afford it and know you'll likely get a better recruiting outcome.
I'm int'l, but the advice I've been getting is to try and start my career in the US first. Plus I've been in the US since middle school, so basically everyone I know is here. I can probably afford one extra semester, but anything beyond that is not feasible.
If IB is your goal their are tons of people that go from CB to Levfin and worst case scenario you can do an MBA.
so, if you are thinking of going back to greater China area in the long term, you should seriously consider hybrid investing / special sits. There is a reason why Bain's SS's global head sits in HK and Apollo just opened their hybrid strategy office in HK (gov / regulation preventing buyout def one of them)
but also suggesting not going back this early - try to spend your first 10-15 years of career in the US then get sent back to HK or CH as a MD
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