From RM to IB, Private Equity, or Hedge Fund

Greetings everyone,
I would like to find out if it is possible or how diffficult it is to move from Risk Management to IB, private equity, or hegde fund. Currently, I am a senior student (undergrad degree), who works simultanously as a financial journalist. I chose financial journalism to network and it takes 6-8 hours a day, so it does not prevent from studying and working on my undergraduate degree. Recently, I received job offer to join risk management department at one investment company.
Should I take that job offer (RM) and switch or should stay and keep networking ?
Pay is at least 50% more at the investment company.
I am considering this only because of more experience, I will definitely not stay there for a long time.
Thanks in advance,

4 Comments
 
Best Response

I have never seen risk managers switching to IB, unfortunately. And it is actually mystery to me, because risk management (if we are talking about real stuff - market risk in hedge fund or even market risk in brokerage or even portfolio credit risk mgmt at a large bank) is quite difficult and the person who can handle it should be really smart person, good with numbers yet used to mind-numbing work every now and then. Isn't it perfect combination for IB analyst?

Yet for some reason risk management (at least from what I see) gets you sort of "middle office" badge which is usually not easy to get rid off.

Journalism is something that won't limit your chances and will make you stand out from other candidates, that's for sure (if it is a proper job, not just a hobby).

// my own perspective of things, I am not in US

 

Yeah, I completely agree with you on experience that one can get as a risk manager and become a perfect candidate for IB analyst. Thus, I thought this experience could add more value.

 

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