IB vs FIG Corp Dev out of undergrad

Hoping someone can provide some thoughts on a couple of options I'm currently presented with. I'm currently heading into my junior year with 2 internship offers that could potentially lead to FT jobs when I graduate.

First one is MM IB and the other one is Corp Dev at a BB bank. I would be the first junior to join the Corp Dev team there (everyone else joined with prior work exp) so not sure what comp would look like but hours would obviously be much better. The group is very active and heavily focused on M&A deals for the bank.

Can anyone speak as to pros/cons/exit options from these opportunities?

I think my long term interest is to end up in Corp Dev and transition to more of an Ops/management role, but I don't think I want to be in FIG. Does it still make sense to take the Corp Dev gig or am I better off working through IB because it gives me better options later?

Thanks

5 Comments
 

dw_11, sorry there are no responses yet. Maybe one of these topics can point you in the right direction:

  • Corporate Development: My Experiences and Background a Corporate Development / Strategy Job Almost our entire team is comprised of burnt out bankers (junior and ... as to why you want to make the jump. Respect and Prestige of Corp Development Jobs While Corp Dev ... I started my career in IB (BB company) out of
  • Corp. Dev to IB analyst role at an investment bank. I am two years out of undergrad, and I intend on going to b-school, ... I'm currently a senior analyst for a healthcare company's corporate development team. ... healthcare focused banks and a few of their VPs. I'd like to leverage these relationships to land an ...
  • Corporate Strategy vs Corporate Development Here's what a typical corp dev interview looks like when coming out of investment banking. Background ... Corporate Development vs Corporate Strategy I'm considering both corporate strategy and corp dev. If ... of undergrad. : The b
  • AMA: Non-target--> 2x SA at BB--> FinTech Corp Dev--> Corp Dev at a large company interested in S&T, so decided to accept a Corp Dev gig. It was a small team doing lots of tech stuff, and ... I found myself at the hottest corp dev team in town, getting lots of responsibility and running more deals ... interested in corporate development/ corporate finance. Here is my story: I studied at a non-target school in ...
  • Corp. Dev. vs. MM IB? performer at one of the above banks? Thanks in advance. IB corporate development acquisition m&a ... people are known to help find exits. Does F100 Corp. Dev. at an active acquirer set me up for PE better ... from a target soon. I recently got an offer for an active corporate development team at a large energy ...
  • Corp Dev vs Niche MM PE vs PE at Pension Fund / SWF (duh). But let's just go with it for the sake of argument): EMEA Corporate Development M&A at ... (Industrials coverage). Considering a few job options, as below (one of the below is an offer; the others are ... Would appreciate any and all perspectives. I'm 2 years post MBA and leaving BB IB ...
  • The logic behind going into a Corp Dev/Strat for work-life balance? people who go into BB IB or MBB Consulting exit into a corporate job sooner or later because only so many ... MBB)-Corporate Banking (Usually 9-6 and MDs could make 1MM)-Investment Management (Work usually 8-6/7 and make ... the year is 9-5 and coud make Partner which pays way more than Corp Dev/Strat)-PWM (Not 100% on this ...
  • More suggestions...

Or maybe the following WSO members have something to say: Puntambekar mkbuffalo @Merchant_of_Debt"

Fingers crossed that one of those helps you.

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

When you say MM, are you talking about like Jefferies/DB or HSBC/Nomura?

"one for the money two for the better green 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine" - M.F. Doom
 

I'd run with the MM; it most likely wont be super hard to lateral if you still want to in a year.

"one for the money two for the better green 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine" - M.F. Doom
 

Id unde laborum animi rerum omnis quidem enim. Voluptates quia nulla qui illum. Facere quia eveniet repellendus cum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • 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

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...”