Citi Private Banking Internship Over $80MM Startup Strategy Role?

I recently received an offer for a Citi Private Banking role but also have an offer to work in strategy at a startup that just raised a second round at an $80M valuation. If my interest is in recruiting for consulting (or going entrepreneurial route after college), should I consider the Citi Private Banking role at all? The startup sounds much cooler but I want to make sure I am not leaving a great opportunity on the table. This would be my junior to senior year internship.

What do you learn in a private banking internship? The startup role would be very hands on and focused on marketing. I want to learn the most that I can this summer to prepare for life after college. 

7 Comments
 

Seems like a no-brainer for me. Take the strat role and don't look back. You'll have a crazy amount of opportunity there to stretch beyond your role and set yourself up for a multitude of opportunities in comparison to private banking. Unless you're super passionate for private banking, don't take that gig.

 
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Congrats on the Citi offer. Not easy to get, I would know :)

Start by considering that you only *think* you know what you want to do long term, it all may change when you get out into the world. So the question is which role exposes you to more growth - that should be the only thing on your mind right now. 

Private Banking at Citi is a special place to be and would give you a lot of exposure to any number of projects/ideas/deals/management. Most of the intern-to-analyst programs are also pretty well structured to grow you career - at least in the first couple of years - and is a great way to get started in the real world. 

Strategy at a startup? Highly dependent on the startup and culture, but are they really going to be looking at the guy whose diploma still has the ink drying for meaningful strategy work? It may very well offer growth, but it's going to be a few years of "carrying water" before that happens. 

 

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