IB, wealth management, or Big 4

I'm a finance and accounting major at a target school in the northeast. Up until now, I've recruited with the big 4 and currently have 2 offers (one for audit, the other is currently for audit but I'm talking to alumni in advisory and may be able to get in there). I haven't done much finance networking although I do have some contacts. I'm thinking more about my options and I'm starting to think Accounting may not be for me. I know it's going to be fairly dull work for pretty crappy pay, although if you stick it out for a couple of busy seasons, it presents some decent exit opps. I've started thinking about IB (probably more along the lines of an MM in Boston, although the BB banks do recruit at my school). I've started reading an IB prep book from my older brother and it sounds really interesting, but there's a lot I would have to teach myself as far as technicals go, and I don't have an incredible amount of time. I hate the thought of recruiting again, especially since I'm a little "behind" in terms of networking, but I think the thought I hate more is knowing that there will be kids from my grade doing IB, making loads of money right off the bat in a prestigious job, even though I know I'm an extremely hard worker and have a great GPA and could be doing what they'll be doing. It annoys me to no end! Am I settling by choosing one of the accounting firms? My other option would be wealth management in NJ, although I'm not sure it's what I want to do. I have less than 2 weeks until my big 4 offers expire. I know a lot of it is a personality fit, but what is my best bet from an objective point of view? Thanks!

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Best Response

Assuming the Big 4 offers you have in hand are for start dates next year, is there anything to stop you from accepting one of the Big 4 offers now and then working to break into IB before your start date? This way, you know you have a job waiting for you one no matter what, and if you do get an IB offer, you're only burning a bridge with one firm/office. If you're successful in IB you won't need that bridge ever again, and if you're not, there are still three other Big 4 firms who have no idea what you did. In fact, if I were a manager/Sr. manager/partner at that Big 4 office you end up burning, I wouldn't even really fault you for going with IB over Big 4, especially since new staff are 100% fungible.

 

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