Ops AM Internship within GS or IBD internship at Mizuho?

Hello, Ive got a few internship offers with Asset management operations at GS and IBD (IAFD) internship st Mizuho as my top choices. at this stage, is it better to prioritise and choose GS hoping to internally transfer to IB or choosing IB at Mizuho and hopefully transferring companies in a few years. Any guidance is truly appreciate!

10 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, when faced with a choice between an operations role at a prestigious firm like Goldman Sachs and an IBD role at a less globally recognized bank like Mizuho, the general consensus leans towards choosing the role that aligns more closely with your long-term career goals. Here's a breakdown:

  • Asset Management Operations at Goldman Sachs (GS):

    • Pros:
    • Prestigious firm with a strong brand name.
    • Potential for internal networking opportunities.
    • Cons:
    • Operations is generally not a direct path to front office roles.
    • An internal transfer to IBD may be challenging and is not guaranteed.
  • IBD Internship at Mizuho:

    • Pros:
    • Direct experience in investment banking.
    • Skillset and experience are more aligned with IBD roles.
    • Cons:
    • Mizuho may not carry the same weight as GS in some regions or circles.

Given the context, it seems that gaining direct IBD experience, even at a smaller or less prestigious firm, is often more beneficial for a career in investment banking. The skills and experience you acquire in IBD are highly transferable and can potentially make it easier to move to a different firm in the future, including a bulge bracket bank like GS, if that's your goal.

Remember, it's crucial to consider where you want to be in the long run. If IBD is your ultimate goal, starting in a role that gives you relevant experience could be more advantageous than starting in a role that doesn't align with your career path, even if it's at a more prestigious firm.

Here is a question that you might be interested in and I can help you with: How does one typically go about transferring from an operations role to an IBD role within the same firm?

Sources: JP Morgan Global Finance & Business Management Intern vs Goldman Ops, Offer decision advice, SA Would you pick Point72 or Goldman Sachs?, Internally Switching to IBD at Goldman Sachs?, Goldman Sales & Trading vs. BCG -- Sophomore Internship

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Thank you for this! may i know why you’d say this? just to understand.

because i’ve honestly heard extreme viewpoints from both sides as some people have said join Goldman Sachs and try to internally transfer while others have said that this is not possible in todays day and to prioritise role over company at this early stage. and hence it’s more important to get into IB as soon as you can and then hopefully transferred to the bulge brackets. so I would really appreciate knowing the rationale behind what you said.

 

Quia ea quis odio quo commodi velit. Omnis molestiae odit aperiam consectetur iusto non vero sed.

Aut est placeat perferendis explicabo consequuntur ut sit. Dolorem eveniet est officiis aliquam.

Cumque ipsam veniam maiores qui quaerat. Pariatur aspernatur ut molestias provident qui ut. Ut velit dolor nostrum itaque atque et. Officia possimus qui minus occaecati et accusamus sed. Non quo veniam molestiae consequuntur deleniti. Perferendis maxime illo nostrum ipsa est non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”