What do I do??
Currently have two offers and really confused on what to take. So I currently sit on the buyside at a large insurance asset manager (think M&G, Aviva Investors, Allianz) as a research analyst focused on infrastructure PE. Essentially the job is conducting thematic research and providing the direction for our infra funds strategy (i.e. put together a top down view and communicate to the orignation guys what sectors we like and what sectors we dislike). I joined this role as a 12 month intern while studying my MSc Finance from a low semi target part time.
My first offer is within the research team at my current firm, they’ve offered to extend my contract by 9 months with a pay bump after which it’s expected I’ll be kept on full time.
I’ve receieved another offer for another 12 month internship at a much larger asset manager with 1 Tn + AUM (think Invesco, Amundi) joining their private credit team. The role here is actually transactional and day to day will involve underwriting deals, building out models and conducting FDD. I’ll caveat by saying the strategy is focused on pretty vanilla deals (i.e. mostly senior secured in terms of the capital structure when looking at LBO’s & Portcos but also some HY & Structured Finance) - it’s also industry agnostic so I expect to gain broader experience. The pay here is lower since I’d be joining as an intern again with no guarantee of being kept on full time and having to prove myself again.
Longer term I’d like to take the role that enhances my pay in the next 3-5 years but also gives me the most optionality in terms of exit ops. From a company stand point the private credit role is at a more reputable asset manager and I’ll develop modelling skills which I think will be very useful over the long term. I’m torn between taking more money now and a guaranteed full time role basically or the private credit job with arguably better experience and a stronger brand name on my CV.
Hoping people on this forum can shine some light on exits from my current role as a research analyst and exits from that private credit role and longer term which one is best to maximise pay and opportunities across the industry.
Have you graduated? Would your current job make you full time now?
I assume the first 12 months were while you were studying, but I would be nervous of any 9-12 month internship post-grad. Kind of wild the first job is still only offering you an internship after one year there. It's a really hard position to be looking for a job 1 year post grad, you're not experienced enough for most roles and too old to be in grad recruiting, so I would look to avoid that first and foremost.
That said I agree with you the PC job sounds better and will give more optionality, but I would really be wary taking internships instead of full time jobs.
Thanks for your response, so I’m studying part time and have another year and a bit of my masters left (started my 12 month program before my MSc) and both firms know I’m studying part time while working. The reason I only got a contract extension was because of a headcount issue as opposed to my performance, I’m aware the head of my team and manager were pushing for FT but because of budget all they could offer was a contract extension + pay bump. I graduate April 2026 so still have quite a bit of time before that!
Also I have a pretty unique background I’m only 21 and started my masters when I was 20. I don’t have an undergrad since I joined B4 out of school at 18 and got accepted to my masters program because of experience and multiple interviews at my uni + the GMAT. Happy to PM to give you more details!
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