MBA internship -> VC or Amazon to get to MBB?

I'm a 1st year MBA at a non-target top 25 school. I have offers for Amazon's FLDP and a couple local VC firms. I want to recruit/network for MBB in the fall. Which internship would help me the most at getting an MBB offer?

6 Comments
 

Whichever one you are most passionate about. It's going to be key for you to tell a good story about what you did/learned over the summer, and why it's made you a better candidate for MBB than you were when you applied during the internships.

If you DIDN'T recruit, I'd say VC. You're going to need a solid reason why you didn't bother recruiting the first time around, and saying you were focused on something as different/unique/weird as VC will play better than just going to a company, even if it's Amazon.

 

Thanks for the reply. I did semi-recruit for the internship, meaning I dropped a cover letter/resume, but didn't do any networking beforehand. I decided to start recruiting for consulting late so I didn't have a chance. Now I decided I'm all in for MBB and going to network throughout the year in hopes of getting an interview in the fall.

 

In terms of networking throughout the year - I wouldn't advise going overboard on this. Second year recruiting is much faster but still structured. The consultants like a break too and don't anticipate having to deal with MBA recruiting during the spring/summer. Second year recruiting places much lower emphasis on networking, it's really about poaching more top talent that have changed their career plans.

 
Best Response

I don't agree with this. Being interested in tech and wanting to try a place like Amazon is just as valid a reason to not recruit for consulting as going for VC.

A small no-name VC will have significantly less signaling power than Amazon. If we're talking about going to Kleiner or Sequoia, obviously go for that, but going to a small local VC without any major successes to their name will throw up a red flag. Amazon is prestigious and has a reputation for hiring strong MBAs. MBB recruiters are risk-averse and want to see something safe, not different/unique/weird.

Also, working at a large company like Amazon in an analytical rotational program is far more similar to MBB than working at a small local VC. You'll have to navigate corporate politics and do far more analytical work than working at a local VC.

 

Nam omnis tempora qui. Sint vel sit aperiam consequatur tempora. Soluta aperiam facilis pariatur. Velit dolores exercitationem fuga tempora iusto sit. Magni et consequuntur quia. Placeat dicta laborum qui rerum sequi.

Amet molestiae eligendi id nihil error. Et esse nisi ipsum et. Est assumenda reprehenderit et ex autem. Ut sed in nemo nihil eum.

Dignissimos cum sed earum doloremque pariatur. Et quo ut voluptas. Vero qui ut velit necessitatibus nisi quia qui. Odit excepturi laborum unde quis dolores magnam. Sint exercitationem voluptatem corrupti numquam enim fuga explicabo.

Sunt nemo culpa accusantium vitae earum ipsam architecto maxime. Eius odio cupiditate iste quos ea voluptatem labore. Accusamus sint ex et distinctio. Sit ex laborum nisi id molestias consectetur. Rem et quam ea consequuntur eveniet.

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 (66) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”