Advice on startups for graduates

I am on the verge of graduating in September - my goal is to make it into FO IB.

Due to realising my ambition for finance later on, than kids knowing when they’re 12 - I lack experience. I have one PE internship (No-name), outstanding MS grades and sub BS grades. I have applied for everything I could possibly find remotely giving me a path to IBD.

I am now at the point where I have to choose something, and would really like some advice.

  1. Very cool startup, great concept FinTech where I would be an all-round associate working with financial products.

  2. 6-month Off cycle intern as a product specialist at a rating company (big name)

  3. Quantitative investment strategies analyst (MM European bank)

I would enjoy 1. The most, really cool team and fun place to work. Comp isn’t great but doable. Although I am not sure what my exits would be like and what my path would look like from here.

  1. Is an interesting opportunity, but as I would be moving city would constantly have the looming deadline of finding something else in 6 months' time. With what sorts of exits?

  2. Another interesting opportunity, that will possibly have good exits?

My main concern is I will not be getting anywhere near enough modelling/ transactional experience to break into IBD. Whatever I take I will be pursuing the CFA on the side, and still looking for other things to do to make the switch to IBD easier.

What do you suggest? I would be applying to IBD as much as I can in my spare time in whatever role I decide to take, but not sure which would give me the best chance. Also any advice on making me a more competitive applicant would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for reading, and I thank you in advance for your input!

 

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