Career Dilemma - Would Appreciate Advice ASAP pls help!!

Hi all!

OK so I'm currently unemployed, because I have been studying for GMAT and wanted to make a career switch into banking (ideally) or consultancy via getting into finance masters in top targeted schools in UK. Still unsure what exactly I would like to do in banking (hence want to do masters), but very inclined to IB, M&A advisory... 

I did go to good uni in UK (not finance or econ but related) and had a full time job after it in a really good company for a year and half but again non finance job at all. So I'm very sceptical of me getting in top targeted schools since I don't have experience in finance, and I wanted to increase my chances by applying to finance jobs. So just now I got 1 offer which is in big 4 in audit, however I'm in huge dilemma should I accept it since it's not really want I wanted and not sure if it would advance that much my application. Also, it will take so much of my time from GMAT preparation, if not all, since I have to study for ACCA. 

But on the other side, it's really good company and having it on CV is beneficial.
Also, I'm scared to accept it - what if there is some better offer that is really related to the field I want to study? I would even accept low paying internship in a small firm that is in finance or banking. And I have been only applying for 1 month.

But at the same time I'm scared to decline it - will this only be my last chance? What if I don't get in any targeted schools and can't land any job in finance, not even accounting...

Since I'm quite new to the industry really would appreciate any advice and help! I need to decide in few days!!

1 Comments
 

Porro sit molestiae mollitia modi ut. Nobis quia rerum eveniet. Mollitia sapiente sunt repellendus cumque sint facere molestias. Impedit repudiandae neque nesciunt debitis est ipsa qui fugiat.

Non dolore eveniet qui. Ea suscipit quos consequuntur sapiente totam neque.

Consequatur recusandae culpa mollitia consequatur. Quis ab aut dolor nostrum omnis laboriosam et. Id repudiandae voluptatem amet sed similique. Aperiam labore praesentium sint. Nostrum occaecati optio distinctio quo quod modi.

Numquam aut consequuntur adipisci quia corporis temporibus. Ut pariatur nihil voluptatibus fuga dolorem enim.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 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

July 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

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (23) $182
  • 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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”