Reject a summer offer at a BB because you want to do trading? Advice needed

Hi all, I was hoping for some advice on my situation.

I completed a spring insight at a top BB, and was fast-tracked for a summer offer for 2013. I was interviewed by a couple of trading desks, and one sales/marketing desk. I have always wanted to go into trading, and occasionally do a bit of day-trading myself, yet my only offer with the firm was for the sales/marketing desk. It is not a rotational internship - 99% of my time would be on the desk.

Is it worth rejecting a top BB just because I want to be on a trading desk, and risk applying to the other 6-7 BBs in a couple of months time in the hope getting such an offer? Competition would be fierce obviously, so there is no definite offer if I do this.

Or would taking the position, even if it wasn't in my preferred role and I wasn't 'following my gut instinct', be more beneficial, not only as it is a guaranteed offer, but because it would look great on my CV to have worked at a good bank.

Also, does rejecting a BB mean you would never be able to work for them in the future, or is that just a stupid rumor I heard? I have not ruled out trying to spend the last month of my next summer (after the internship) at a trading prop firm or something if I accept the role.

Cheers,

4 Comments
 

It would be after my 2nd year of uni. True, a 1 month insight wouldn't be the same as a 3 month internship. To renege means I would be blacklisted from the firm, but does rejecting mean a blacklist?

 
Best Response

Rejecting does not mean a blacklist, and you would have a good reason to back up your decision. Tell them that you really liked the culture but that you want to pursue your genuine interest. However, if you are not coming from a strong background (school, gpa, internships), I would advise you to take this offer and try to move internally (although that might be tough). Next year will be very competitive and S&T are extremely popular because of stupid monkeys dreaming about HF jobs..

Perhaps you can get some part time prop shop internship during the year or something and this intership would be a nice thing on your CV.

I know that you are not talking about GS, JPM, CS or BAML, so I guess that you have an offer from MS; talk to some MD's there, message analysts and associates that you've met during the spring insight.

 

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