Investment Banking vs Private Equity vs Hedge Funds. What is the difference? What do they do? What is the Best?
Hello all,
I am currently at a target school, and I am looking very seriously into a finance career. I'm looking for my niche, and I am trying to learn more about the finance industry at a broad level. I understand this is probably one of those questions that doesn't garner simple and short answers...
there are books written about this sort of thing...
But honestly if i'm sitting where you are i'd probably want to think hard about what mix of qualities I want out of a career. How important is leisure time to you today? In 5 years? 10 years? How analytical are you? Are you happy working undisturbed in a hyper-focused manner for long periods of time or do you prefer regular interactions? How much training/mentoring/guidance do you think you'll need? What is your 'risk tolerance'? (e.g. how devastated would you be if you got fired in 18 months?) How long of a career do you want? Do you plan to go to b-school? Do you have a view on whether you think markets are efficient or not? Do you like to spend long periods (e.g. 6 months+) on a narrow set of 2-3 ideas, or do you like to have plenty of 'water through the gills'? Where do you hope to live long-term? Does prestige matter to you? Do you care about how your friends/family perceive what you do (whether or not their perception is accurate)?
I would try to answer these types of questions first, and then you should have a better idea of which track suits you.
Check out the guides on this site and others (I don't like to link to competitors of WSO but they're easy to find) for both brief and detailed descriptions of what each is and tips in how to break in. Then search the forums on here for different specific topics when you come across more specific questions.
kid at a target school doesn't know how to use a search bar, good to know.
Haha. Target. UVA is a real target alright...
17 monkey shits and counting. You all are just going to town.
welcome to WSO. my recommendation: change your avatar to a fake picture (not an actual picture of yourself), change your username and signature (you have your initials), and do what I said in your other thread. I'm not trying to be mean, but the reason there are FAQs is because these are extremely common questions that Patrick has taken a lot of time answering. Make use of those resources, but in case you forgot what I wrote:
After checking out your linkedin profile, I have to say i spilled my water bottle on half of the things on there.
Cool story, Howard Chen. I think by simple fact that you went to George Washington University, I'll have discount everything you say.
@algernon Not quite impressed with the fact that you had no idea that linkedin tells you who has viewed your profile. And really? You put surveying on your linkedin! Keeping track of company cash flows, reconciling, and identified wire transfers?? Haha you are OVERHEAD!!! Also, remove that GW scholarship. Everybody knows that nobody pays the full price at private schools unless you're a borderline idiot, congrats, I thought I had you there. Its also no news that GWU has had an admissions scam which leaves them unranked by US News...I don't know why anyone would choose to go there...My co-workers are still laughing, interning in the OVERHEAD department. Is becoming a bank teller next?
@"algernon" you're facebook has literally a handful of photos. Don't lie to me, do you have any friends?
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