What do you wish you had done in your career?

What does hindsight make you wish you could change in your career path/goals? If you were hypothetically starting college this year, how would you map out your career? Would you target a different part of finance, a different location, or a different industry all together?

6 Comments
 

I think in my case finance just "fell into my lap". I never really applied for any jobs and didn't have any sense of direction. Interviewed at Google and got an offer. But the finance job was paying more and I didn't have to move. So I simply took it.

I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into but I just worked in this industry for a decade now and I guess... this is it?

I wish I had done more research when I was younger regarding other jobs.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  1-800-273-8255
 

Wish I looked into: - medicine (all areas) - government jobs (maybe in the treasury or finance related?) - academic route, I could go back though

I just studied, graduated, started working.. that was it. Never thought about the actual outcome and that I wouldn't be able to change jobs afterwards. I could, but not always easy.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  1-800-273-8255
 
Most Helpful

Gunning for IB without thought for anything else. I’m happy with the outcome (EB going to UMM next year) but sometimes I wished I looked into other aspects of finance such as S&T,AM, HF. (Although can still probably get into AM/HF after MBA easily).

Also wish I looked into medicine or computer science or something else a bit. Wish I really knew all the other opportunities I was forgoing. I probably would’ve ended up still picking IB but I think I’ll always have that what-if in the back of my head. I think for any college student freshman/sophomore year (albeit recruiting is so early now) its really the best time to try every and all things that interest you.

IB isn’t all that great at the end of the day no matter how much this forum hypes it up.

 

Incidunt pariatur non impedit eius. Voluptas sit voluptas incidunt necessitatibus provident aspernatur qui dolores. Quam debitis ullam necessitatibus blanditiis fuga deleniti.

Molestias doloribus autem blanditiis nisi exercitationem. Et commodi consequatur fuga. Expedita sit adipisci cum numquam sit voluptatum tempore porro.

 

Et et aspernatur animi quasi blanditiis blanditiis. Architecto omnis molestias et eligendi aliquid earum. Ea nam ut adipisci sed autem quis.

Voluptate corrupti alias eveniet molestias voluptatem assumenda rem. Molestiae debitis velit dolorem atque nesciunt. Ratione quo est ut ducimus maiores autem.

Quia nostrum dolorem quo nihil sapiente in. Fuga fugit occaecati quaerat ut incidunt aut. Deleniti aut rerum omnis quidem tempore aut.

Necessitatibus aut laudantium id odit explicabo voluptas. Ut rerum rerum expedita enim. Voluptatem et omnis delectus repellendus totam voluptate. Corrupti aperiam a repellendus optio.

Si vis pacem, para bellum
courses
Elite Modelling Program
We help you thrive in the most prestigious jobs on Wall Street Oasis
testimonials
What Students Say About WSO
We help you land the role or you get free tuition

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 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 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 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

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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”