I’m still an undergrad but I’ve always been interested in trading. However, I’m worried that IB will give me better exit ops than markets so maybe I’m missing out on a really important part. Can anyone share their experience or opinion on this?
The exit ops really depend on what you want. For instance, if you’re interested in PE, banking is definitely the way to go. However, if you’re considering becoming a portfolio manager, or working at a hedge fund, trading is likely the better choice. Popular trading exit ops include:
- execution trading (working at a hedge fund or asset manager you’ll be asked “we want to have a $X position in a certain security” in the cheapest way possible)
- prop trading (“buy-side trading”, you’re given some amount of money to trade with) at a prop shop, or pension fund or high freq trading firm
The former two could potentially get you to a PM role. However for IB, the most common exit ops include:
- private equity
- strategy consulting
- FP&A at a bank
If you’re sure that you want to become a PM then you’re making the right choice but if you’re still on the fence between different paths then it’s better to keep your options open.
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