Hi everyone please help. Should I join a subpar grad scheme at a bank (risk/commercial banking at Lloyds/Natwest). Or should I do a masters in Accounting and Finance (LSE/Imperial).
Goal is to recruit for IB.
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No IB experience so far? That masters is likely not going to help you recruit for FT roles. No chance, you will be competing with people with top BB summers in the best case scenario and in the worst case europeans with 12 months of experience.
Best shot you got is to apply for summers - which already opened.
Lost the other burner so new account.
Thanks for reply. For background, did a SA at BB but within risk/middle-back office.
Would you say do masters and apply for SA IB or do grad scheme and apply for SA IB?
How come you can't apply for SA IB now?
Honestly, I think u could justify how you learned about IB too late in college but explain how you took actionable steps towards the goal of breaking in. Obviously you have to understand every aspect and question for interview. All I can say is worked for me in undergrad, so I think it would work for you in MsF.
I'd say an MFin would make sense in your case if you're dead set on IB. Personally entered Imperial MFin after 1yr of experience in Corp Banking at an international bank and I'm now at a top BB in IB. Just make sure that IB is really what's you want to do long term and that you're ok with the WLB.
Society makes us obsess over prestige but the truth is it's the wrong way to look at a career. I would take the commercial banking role over risk, and learn as much as possible in this role. Europe is more lenient about lateral hires, and you can also lateral into an IB role.
Going back to school to take on more debt vs getting experience and making money in the meantime is silly in my opinion. If you ever want to go back to school, do it for an MBA 5-6 years later (I'm not a big fan of the MBA either given how expensive it is but I recognize how helpful a top tier school is to landing a dream role in finance or any other industry)
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