Post MBA IB Career End Game?
I'm current an actuary at a F50 insurance company. I'm seriously considering applying for NYU Stern MBA to make the transition into IB.
However, based on what I understand, most post-MBA IB associates don't end up making it to the VP levels or above. The most common exit is the corporate development/strategy role at F500 companies.
My question is: if that is the most likely end game outcome, then do I even bother apply for MBA? Since I'm already in a F50 company, am I better off just staying at my current role, working my way up and seeking out internal opportunity to a corporate development role? It seems like they both lead to the same end results.
If you were in a financial planning & analysis or strategic finance role you probably could position yourself to move internally.
However actuary is completely unrelated, has no financial statement work, no corporate strategy angle, etc. that those corp dev groups would seek. I think it would be a difficult move to make and will actually probably only get harder as you move up the actuary ranks.
Good point, I probably underestimated the degree of difficulty of an internal transfer. Especially, the longer I wait, the hard it gets.
What about Treasury?
OP, I think you might be misinformed - post-MBA IB Associates frequently make it to VP levels, given performance. In fact, most post-MBA Associates are hired with the sole intention of them becoming senior bankers for the firm
Considerations * Most people don't make it to VP of their own volition, i.e. they burn out or get better exit options * Post-MBA Associate will not make you happier. In fact it's liable to make you materially less happy than you are now. The real ROI comes over the long term for your career, but the steps to get there are brutal * One option you might consider is if your F50 would do any of the following for you: (1) management rotation program, (2) sponsor your MBA to come back in another role or position; (3) do a part-time MBA and partially/fully cover that. If your aim is work-life balance and to make it back to a corp dev position, you might be able to do it directly through the MBA rather than going through banking first
Thanks for your suggestions, I will explore those options within my organization. But I still lean towards a MBA reset, I just feel like this is the last chance for me to do that, and also in long run it will mostly likely pay off. I personally prioritize long term career prospect over work-life balance. For me, timing wise, it is basically now or never. I have only the next 1-2 years window of opportunity to apply for the full time MBA.
Sounds good, and I understand and shared the sentiment. Just have a Plan B and Plan C in mind in case any of the following happen: * Your summer Associate recruiting is unsuccessful / not as successful as you hoped (firm/team/location) * You do a summer Associate program and don't get a return offer and need to do something else * You do a summer in banking, get a return offer, and decide it's not for you, and want to recruit for something else * You do banking full-time and want to switch to something else after the first or second year
For those reasons I would not burn any bridges where you are currently (even if a remote back up plan) and would also have in the back of your mind what you could "accept" in terms of creative career structuring should banking not work out (whether your choice or not).
Nobis autem quaerat ea. Qui officia est sit quas aperiam. Laboriosam et qui eos omnis ipsa facere. Et qui excepturi doloribus incidunt eos. Alias corporis quae voluptatibus consectetur.
Nihil illo saepe sed fugit praesentium. Commodi voluptatem itaque ut in incidunt at voluptate.
Rerum cupiditate et perspiciatis aut et. Neque asperiores quam saepe vel sit quas. Non ea placeat qui deserunt qui maxime. Corrupti architecto vel est quasi quia placeat.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...