Rejected FLDP for Big 4 TS, end goal IBD. Did I make a mistake?

The FLDP had a great location too in major financial metropolis, and some very finance-oriented rotations, including ones in financial modeling to support corp dev (but not directly corp dev), ones in credit analysis, and the like. However, to avoid potentially boring accounting focused rotations that are prevalent in all FLDP programs (and these are yearlong rotations, I was also told I'd have no choice over 1st rotation as it's just leftovers from positions that the more senior ppl in the FLDP didn't pick), I rejected FLDP in favor of TS which at least gives exposure to M&A process. The TS job will consist of rotations between AAS (Accounting Advisory Services, which is boring) and FDD (Financial Due Diligence), with the SMALL potential for rotations in Corp Fin (IBD) and Restructuring Advisory, but the latter are not guaranteed and unlikely. It'll most likely place me in FDD at the end.

With the end goal being top MBA > IB Associate, did I make the right choice for first job out of undergrad?

15 Comments
 

Perhaps..

I also have to take tons of winter classes this semester in order to complete my CPA/Accounting requirements for the Big 4 job, whereas if I accepted FLDP that wouldn't be necessary.

I'm having major regrets now...this is a terrible feeling. Should I try to renege on Big 4 and call back the company I rejected?

Also the big 4 had a higher salary, but I'm not doing it for the money.

 
Best Response

Thanks Mephistopheles. I understand that TS has a few strengths, but the more I look at LinkedIn profiles of the current FLDP analysts in interesting 1st year rotations (like the one in Treasury- Capital Markets doing prop trading), the more I regret this decision. This FLDP was a goldmine that I didn't do enough research into until after I rejected it (the HR gave me an exploding offer and refused me extra time to consider it though...)

It's a lesser known company but within Fortune 100 nonetheless, and they seem to have a very unique FLDP with rotations you won't see elsewhere. If there are any aspiring fldps out there, feel free to PM me for the company name. They seem to take online apps (I got it thru cold online app) instead of on campus recruiting and I won't be able to take advantage of this anymore anyways.

 

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