Start FT at Mid-Tier BB vs. Masters at LBS/LSE/HEC
Hi everyone, I would really appreciate some advice from some of you more senior monkeys regarding what I should do:
After recent recruiting, I have received a 2021 FT offer from a mid/low tier BB in London and am also in a position to pursue a Finance Masters at a top business school (LBS/LSE/HEC). Barring factors such as location difference, what do you think is the better approach?
I am extremely fortunate to have a FT offer in current economic climate. However, I am almost certain the FT position will begin with WFH, and this is something that is really putting me off since the exposure, learning and general life is nothing like normal IB at the desk.
I’d start at the lower BB. Very limited upside in pursuing the MFin while the downside and opportunity costs are huge.
Exploring the same q but for a MM advisory firm - would you take an offer from a mid-market boutique in London (over the MFA/MiF route)?
Brand name isn't very well established but has consistently ranked highly in terms of deal flow in MM space
Depends what you want to do - are you looking to be doing large cap M&A/PE for instance? if yes the masters may be the best choice, if you consider staying in banking MMs are a great place to be.
Take the FT offer... Attending LBS/LSE/HEC is not a guarantee of a IB FT offer at GS/JP/MS. You will definitely have opportunities to lateral after one year at the low/middle BB.
Taking the FT offer would definitely be the wiser choice. As mentioned above, plenty of opportunities to move to other banks after the one year mark, and the room for improvement from a mid-tier BB is quite limited versus the time & money commitment these masters would require.
FWIW, my mid-tier BB has plenty of grads from all three schools you mentioned - it's just one data point, but take it as a sign that if you enrol in the master, you may end up with a similar offer to the one you have currently in your hands...
Agree with the above. The best solution imo would be talking to the BB and asking to move your FT offer by one year because of MSc studies and trying recruitment during the degree. This way there is no risk that you end up without any offer and there is only upside.
In my view it is ideal, not sure if possible tho.
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