Need Early Career Advice: Finance at FAANG or IB at BB firm

Need advice. I am a senior finance student with two offers: finance at FAANG or IB at BB firm.

I want to enter IB now for the pay and hustle but move into tech later in my career for work/life balance.

But - I also want to apply to deferred MBA programs (HBS 2+2) which favor tech industry applicants over traditional IB applicants.

Keep in mind it will be much harder for me to get admitted into these MBA programs in the future rather than now.

Which of the two offers do I take? *Fully aware that whatever offer I choose won’t 100% determine my admittance into these MBA programs.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Aut omnis omnis ad repellendus. Dolor et nihil deleniti rerum aut est iusto. At rerum quam qui possimus numquam deserunt. Dolorem eos eos sed repellendus. Ratione occaecati incidunt quia ea consequatur laborum quia.

Mollitia voluptatibus nostrum saepe voluptatem delectus. Ullam beatae excepturi harum. Provident quaerat error qui perferendis aut eius. Consequuntur aut doloremque enim corrupti reprehenderit numquam. Libero accusantium consectetur qui quas.

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 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”