Would you recommend: accepting an offer at a BB/Top Boutique’s Toronto office, or accepting an offer at a Big 5 Bank? The BB’s Toronto office has a base of $85K, but I’m afraid I’m not going to get that much of an experience, considering it’s mainly execution/coverage. Accepting an offer at the BB’s Toronto office would mean that I could transfer to NY or London in a few years, though.
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if its mostly execution and coverage, what do you think you are missing?
As someone who was at a big 5, and now at a BB in NY, it depends on what you want your exit to be, and which of the big 5 it is. If its BMO/RBC/CIBC, then you will have good exit options in Canada. The top funds really only take a couple of people per year, so nothing is a sure thing, but you are gonna get a spot at a respectable buy side shop or your pick of b-schools in Canada. My friends that took the BB route had more or less similar exit options in Canada, but a better shot at moving accross the border. Do not expect to be able to do so from Big 5 unless you make a stop at the NY office first.
With regards to b-school in the states, there was no noticeable advantage of going to big 5 vs. BB. Overall, I think everyone I know that had the stats to get in had no problem finding a top 15 school to take them. Undergrads included Ivey, Queens, UofT, York, Laurier, Waterloo, Mcgill.
Hope this helps.
Hi yuntsucks,
I recently accepted an offer at one of the big 5 (not Toronto office) and looking to apply to an ivy league MBA down the road. Why is there a noticeable advantage with regards to b-school coming from the big 5? I would think that BBs would carry a stronger brand...
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