Corp Dev to Equity Research or PM?

Hey guys I'm new here but looking for a bit of advice:

I graduated in May from a non-target school and I've been trying to get an analyst role of any sort working in investment research. I took the Level 1 CFA® in June and passed that, which I feel has earned me a few interviews. I have made it to the final stage but nothing has stuck because the roles weren't research oriented and they said they felt I'd just leave after 2 years.

The other problem is I'm in the Midwest and obviously there isn't much in research out here. I recently played golf with the VP of a publicly traded utility company out here and he practically offered me in a job in their corporate development division where he said I'd be helping with M&A opportunities doing valuations. Do you think this is a good place to start my career? What would my exit ops be? I'm planning on continuing CFA® in hopes that it could seamlessly transfer over into research to continue towards my end goal of being a PM someday. What are your thoughts?

3 Comments
 

2-3 years in Corp Dev in utilities + CFA -> ER utilities coverage group would be VERY feasible and I think it would be better for your career in general. You would have excellent industry experience which would provide you with great insight on the ins and outs of the sector and TONS of industry contacts... then you will have all the tools to market yourself to top ER shops.

 

Mollitia qui aliquid et omnis at. Repellendus qui saepe illo ratione laudantium iste nobis consequatur. Impedit odio ipsam recusandae. Alias voluptatem qui laborum nihil labore repellendus in. Et labore architecto ipsum quos repellat perferendis.

Quis mollitia commodi voluptates ut. Itaque fuga incidunt et aut quisquam. Quaerat ex quia asperiores ut necessitatibus.

Enim corrupti ut necessitatibus dolorem enim. Quaerat perferendis recusandae natus consequatur. Molestiae corrupti qui doloribus doloremque adipisci. Quia asperiores similique expedita odit. Cum ea architecto sequi doloribus. Iure quod ut et in nesciunt nulla veritatis. Deleniti harum itaque facilis.

Blue horseshoe loves Anacott Steel

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

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...”