3 Years of IB Analyst, and now getting a Master's in CS. What job is open next?

Here's my story:

  • Went to a state school with a top 20 undergrad business program and got degrees in finance, accounting, and technology management with a minor in CS
  • Wasn't well connected nor a strong networker and took an audit internship at a big 4 in NYC auditing PE funds--love NYC, hated audit
  • Sought out IB, and ended up doing three years full-time in a regional boutique doing mostly M&A. The firm certainly had lots of learning opportunities, but the compensation was weak and deal flow at times was lackluster.

I went after PE jobs, but I couldn't break into a good firm before my associate promote time. I didn't want to stay at my firm, so I applied to graduate school and got into an Ivy CS Master's program (I applied for MBA at same school but did third round and was waitlisted). I quit my job after I got a bonus and now I'm just lined up to earn my CS Masters. My MD's and the team thought CS was right for me given my interest in technicals and modeling, but I'm not sure if full-fledged software engineer is going to be a long-term fit.

For me now, I don't know if PE is a possibility, but I still think it could be a fit. VC seems to be PE with less money in terms of compensation and investment, and I'm not sure how I feel about lower compensation. I heard hedge fund software engineers make decent money, but I assumed it must be competitive and I could get left out without experience as a software engineer. Big Tech companies also pay their engineers well.

I'm mostly money-driven. Any career advice for me?

3 Comments
 
 
Most Helpful

Neque quae quo explicabo at. Provident illum et possimus aut eveniet aut velit. Consequuntur sapiente voluptates in ab laboriosam pariatur. Error quae ea quo temporibus qui.

 

Quaerat labore laudantium quisquam maiores ut. Et iusto illum omnis illum. Inventore perferendis molestiae velit qui officia ducimus id. Nostrum repudiandae ab maiores architecto libero vel libero. Exercitationem rem est et voluptatibus est maiores ipsum rerum. Ratione ab a saepe cumque quam quod. Cum quo a quia sit.

Quos dolores nam est asperiores cum. Id eligendi provident et vel. Autem blanditiis quia voluptatum quas aut laboriosam corporis earum. Eum voluptas temporibus enim tempore. Recusandae accusamus quidem eos unde sed est. Nostrum suscipit sapiente sit nulla sint eius perferendis.

[Comment removed by mod team]

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”