~ Gap Year Before IB. What would you do?
Hello all -
Graduating basically a year early with a few remote classes to do. Starting FT IB next summer. That being said, probably want to recruit for PE next year (and as of now, pursue the traditional IB PE MBA HF path). If you were in my shoes today, with essentially a full year off before starting your career, what would you do?
Planning on traveling and enjoying life before losing all my free time. But also want to utilize the time to do PE prep, maybe get an internship and build my resume further, etc. Think this is a completely unique situation and opportunity to be flexible with my time - looking to hear from people who know far more than me, any advice is appreciated!
If you’ve got a year off before starting your IB role, you’re in a prime position to balance personal growth, career preparation, and some well-deserved relaxation. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s how you can make the most of this unique opportunity:
1. Travel and Recharge
2. Private Equity (PE) Preparation
3. Skill Development
4. Health and Fitness
5. Side Projects or Hobbies
6. Read and Stay Informed
7. Plan Strategically
This year is a golden opportunity to set yourself up for success while enjoying some freedom. Balance is key—don’t burn out before your career even begins!
Sources: Intro to Investment Banking, Q&A - Post-MBA VP, Q&A - Private Equity Internships, Two Internships Don’t Equal a Job: My journey from an NGO to a VC, Best summer option for breaking into Private Equity post-MBA
Travel as much as you can - I wouldn't do an internship, it won't add much at this point. Spend time with your parents. The few months I went home during Covid sucked at the time but now I cherish the amount of time I got to spend with my family.
Maybe take a month or so towards the end to do some PE prep and get the SIE done so you're not jamming on exams or having to start from scratch whenever oncycle happens
Don't do an internship at all. Enjoy the free time - see friends and family, travel, find new hobbies, hit the gym, etc. This is a golden opportunity and you will have ample time to worry about career stuff.
Read a lot of books to keep your mind sharp, but no need to do any work. You have the rest of your life for that! Maybe schedule a couple networking calls here or there, save the PE / SIE prep for the last finals months. You will be working very hard once starting IB, so do whatever you can to make sure you're fully refreshed and ready to go.
If I had this opportunity I actually go out and network. There’s no real prep you need to do, the job trains you.
If you want to do PE, I would use the fact that you have an easy schedule to just meet people and ask questions. Learn what gets you excited, and where you want to position yourself for the future.
If you're remotely interested in entrepreneurship / tech, I would use the time to build something and see how far you can take it. Once you're in IB, you won't have the time or energy to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives.
>Planning on traveling and enjoying life before losing all my free time. But also want to utilize the time to do PE prep, maybe get an internship and build my resume further, etc.
Advice here is from someone perhaps a decade or a bit more older. The hard part is, nothing anybody here can say will convince you that you shouldn't do anything professional. I was in pretty much the exact same boat and I insisted on doing professional things. And they probably helped. But I would do anything to go back in time.
I would backpack around SE Asia / AUS. I would go do Everest base camp. I'd spend time working on a matcha farm in Japan (that's a thing). I'd maybe do the Appalachian trail. I'd go be a park rangers and clear paths in national parks.
You could also just live in a city. Go bum around Paris and get into the club scene. Go get an easel and learn to paint by the Seine every day. Write shitty poems and bum around the Sorbonne.
I mean literally, a year that is mostly unstructured is a gift from god to actually live life. We are all cursed in that we cannot pursue this because we by some sickness place ourselves in finance. But you have a year of freedom PLUS you will be going to banking. Just go live brother.
I’d probably try to take the GMAT if you think you’re seriously planning on the MBA route (though whether or not you should do that is a different question). It’s a pain in the ass to prep for while you’re working and to some extent you’re more in a student mindset now where studying for an exam will feel more natural
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