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?

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