Choosing between Equity Research and Leveraged Finance

Hello,

I've been an avid reader of WSO for a while and would need some advice for career choices. I have previous internship experience in equity research.

Current options: 1) FT position at a highly respected equity research firm. 2) Long-term internship (think north of 6 months) in leveraged finance at a Tier 2/3 bank. After the internship there is a possibility to extend the internship and only after the extension there might be a FT opportunity.

I also tried breaking into an IB internship, but was not successful. I am not sure which option would be the best for me. I am interested in the equity research role and since it is a FT role I would be well off in the short-term with exit opp to buy-side down the way. The problem is that I am concerned about the long-term prospects of equity research and asset management business. By taking the internship in leveraged finance I would have further career options in leveraged finance and possibly in IB and PE (perhaps someone can comment how realistic these exit opps actually are).

Which opportunity is better in your opinion for long-term career prospects?

Thank you

3 Comments
 

Yes, it is one of the French ones. I have not heard many good words about French banks in this forum. Do you have direct experience? Could you elaborate why working there would not be that great? What about doing the internship and using that to lateral to a FT role in some other LevFin team or possibly in IB? Since the window for FT analyst recruiting is just opening it could open some doors for me. Appreciate the feedback.

 

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