Powerful Network - Unsure What to Ask, IB vs ER

I'm facing a dilemma on whether I should ask my network to put me in touch with someone for investment banking or equity research.

I recently, through serendipity, was able to intern for a year at a very respectable and prominent investment firm in its sector (L/S HF + PE, ~$10B AUM). Think like Orbimed. I was able to make become well acquainted with some of the partners which included head traders, portfolio manager, analysts, etc.

No offers were being given out but through the experience, I do want to end up back in a HF. When I looked through LinkedIn, a lot of respectable funds seem to recruit from the BB/EB IB pool rather than ER. In addition, IB appears to give much more exit opportunities (I know this has been hammered home a ton of times here). Basically, I would prefer to pursue IB.

However, my experience at the fund was working in the L/S public side, so I have no transactional experience. I also have a 3.3 GPA as a finance major at a non-target. I also have no internships in IB and no opportunity to intern again as I am graduating this semester.

Given these circumstances, while they could introduce me to someone at a BB or EB, is it worth taking a shot risk-adjusted—given that I would forgo asking for an introduction to people in ER (would look indecisive), where I would have the relevant experience and recruiting is less structured?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you.

 

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