Accepted FT S&T offer at RBC/CIBC/CITI but recently received offers from Google/Apple/Tesla and Virtu/Belvedere/Optiver. Unsure if reneging is the right choice.

I accepted a FT S&T offer but recently received offers from a prop firm and a tech company. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do for my career in 2-4 years; whether it is going to business school, running a trading desk, or starting a tech company. I'm at a crossroads and am unsure how reneging will affect me or if not, what my potential career goals will look like. If you were in a similar situation, what did you do? Thanks

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

If the Virtu/Belvedere/Optiver route is as a Trader and not for SWE (I see you listed Google, Apple, Tesla here as well) and you want to do trading, you should take the prop shop offer. It's very easy to move from prop to S&T, but more difficult to move from S&T to prop speaking from experience in the industry with headhunters and friends.

I see more S&T guys wanting to hop to Hedge Funds (HF's are typically the clients of these guys so they form a good relationship and develop the fundamental derivatives/macro knowledge at a Bank) and prop shop is typically the other end goal people want to be in for trading.

Additionally, if it is Optiver or Virtu it is a no-brainer and shouldn't even be a question. Virtu is a leading HFT firm in the space, Optiver is a great options-focused market making/prop shop. If you like HFT stuff and have a more coding oriented background Virtu might be a better fit. If you like discretionary/macro and more manual trading of options/non-linear risk products Optiver might be a better fit. Belvedere is another OMM but not in the same league as Optiver, although I would still take Belvedere over any S&T. 

 

this this this

OP if you actually offers from Virtu and Optiver, even if it meant completely burning every possisble bridge at any bulge bracket bank (and you were completely blackballed from any full service IB), I would still say its a no brainer.

HFT firms pay a ton, have great benefits, lower hours, and you will be hounded by recruiters for jobs non stop.

 

Voluptatem maiores dolore aperiam perferendis accusamus maiores id. Dolor rerum quibusdam recusandae harum nesciunt quam neque. Sit placeat autem qui quia. Id ipsum suscipit minima fugiat necessitatibus.

Dicta sunt voluptatibus libero. Excepturi cumque consequatur aliquid amet illo. Corporis ea dolores perferendis ex aliquid eaque sed.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”