Investment Banking / S&T best career route? PLEASE HELP!!

I am aiming to work in IB (M&A/DCM/ECM) or S&T (FICC and Equities)

What is a better route: Barclays Corporate banking degree apprenticeship with a funded degree from LIBF in Financial Management or a Maths and Econ degree from Bristol/Leeds/Notts.

My thoughts are as follows, please advise, thank you!!

Barclays DA
+ Corporate bank works closely w the Investment bank, especially when issuing loans and debt. Potential opportunity for a lateral move after the 4yr DA.
+ funded degree (no debt)
+ 4 years of somewhat related work exp, expand network, more potential for a lateral internal move
+ career growth, i will be made an associate after 4yr DA is up (associate at 22)
- Degree is not quantitative and from dead uni
- could be slapped in proper back office for the entire 4yrs

Maths & Econ Bsc from Semi target uni
+ quantitative degree
+ I have quite a lot of relevant trading/financial services work exp so would be in an alrightish position for potential spring weeks > internships (maybe even placement year) > grad programme
- semi target could mean breaking into BB is unlikely (possible, just more work required which i will put in)
- debt
- will be behind in career compare to Barclays (analyst at 21 - if i am successful first time around)

Please advise, I really appreciate any insight.

Thank you!

Reply 1

gr8wizard10

for FO, a top-uni degree would be better.

but my 2c honestly, if i were back in your shoes I would take the apprenticeship all day - it's so tough to break in especially if you don't have a seat at a target. front office / back office at the end of the day they're all just jobs that pay a salary so you can pay your bills imo.

for reference, i was semi-target / FO BB (M&A / IBD industry coverage) and left after a year and a half, work is brutal and not worth the sacrifice to personal welfare. I would've rather been in a MO/BB role with the decent base pay that could've maybe given me longevity.

Reply 2

rammerst

Original post

by gr8wizard10

for FO, a top-uni degree would be better.
but my 2c honestly, if i were back in your shoes I would take the apprenticeship all day - it's so tough to break in especially if you don't have a seat at a target. front office / back office at the end of the day they're all just jobs that pay a salary so you can pay your bills imo.
for reference, i was semi-target / FO BB (M&A / IBD industry coverage) and left after a year and a half, work is brutal and not worth the sacrifice to personal welfare. I would've rather been in a MO/BB role with the decent base pay that could've maybe given me longevity.

Really appreciate the reply.

I am leaning more towards the Barclays DA, however my main concern is that the degree is not quantitative in the slightest, and is from a mid university - so am i almost shooting myself in the foot?

Especially if i want to keep the S&T (FICC and equities) door open, i doubt it would be possible to shift from Corporate banking (no name uni and mid degree) to sales and trading?

I am also aware Bristol is semi target, however I have completed quite alot of relevant work experience (eTrading (interest rate swaps) @Large Japanese investment bank, Equity derivatives trading @ a Large securities firm) So say i go to Bristol are my chances of S&T greater?

Cheers for all the insight you've already provided much appreciated mate!

Reply 3

gr8wizard10

Original post

by rammerst

Really appreciate the reply.
I am leaning more towards the Barclays DA, however my main concern is that the degree is not quantitative in the slightest, and is from a mid university - so am i almost shooting myself in the foot?
Especially if i want to keep the S&T (FICC and equities) door open, i doubt it would be possible to shift from Corporate banking (no name uni and mid degree) to sales and trading?
I am also aware Bristol is semi target, however I have completed quite alot of relevant work experience (eTrading (interest rate swaps) @Large Japanese investment bank, Equity derivatives trading @ a Large securities firm) So say i go to Bristol are my chances of S&T greater?
Cheers for all the insight you've already provided much appreciated mate!

yeah non-quant takes you out of the running for the most part on the trading piece - sales perhaps is still open, and shifting from corp broking to S&T i've never heard of it done. I have seen trading ops to FO S&T but chances are super slip tbh.

yes, bristol is a semi and opens the doors for sure. if FO is the aim, you'd want to go uni route and be super dedicated to landing those spring weeks / summers to convert into a FO seat

Reply 4

rammerst

Really appreciate the honesty

Going back to your first reply - In terms of best start to career in general, i am actually understanding your point more.

Would you say the apprenticeship - although it shuts off doors to S&T and hedgefund etc - is still a good start to career, and would i be in a good position to pivot into various areas of banking, and even leave banking for other roles??

Because obviously uni means i will have more options and a more broader path open to me, but i will be in severe debt and could even not achieve S&T/IBD. My point here is for a general successful career earning a fair wack having a decent work/life balance would you say barclays Corporate banking is much much better in the long run?

Really appreciate all your insight so far, really helping me out!

Reply 5

gr8wizard10

Original post

by rammerst

Really appreciate the honesty
Going back to your first reply - In terms of best start to career in general, i am actually understanding your point more.
Would you say the apprenticeship - although it shuts off doors to S&T and hedgefund etc - is still a good start to career, and would i be in a good position to pivot into various areas of banking, and even leave banking for other roles??
Because obviously uni means i will have more options and a more broader path open to me, but i will be in severe debt and could even not achieve S&T/IBD. My point here is for a general successful career earning a fair wack having a decent work/life balance would you say barclays Corporate banking is much much better in the long run?
Really appreciate all your insight so far, really helping me out!

it's a question that's very dependent on your risk tolerance and "career" ambition

i for example didn't really have apprenticeships open to me 10years ago when i was deciding my university courses. albeit in hindisght my idea of career now vs. then is very different. for me personally, i see these professions as just jobs that pay the bill.. whereas back then i was in awe of what i could potentially be doing.. which in reality, isn't really much other than sitting at a computer punching some numbers into excel and making slides look pretty to present to other people who are broadly doing the same thing under different 'titles'

and being a bit more risk averse, if an option was open to go into a job, get paid, get training and forego university (time and money sink - for a small chance of breaking into some quote unquote elite banking job), I would go for the apprenticeships everytime - I even advocate for it. That is for the vast majority of people, there might be the few % of people who don't care (or say they don't care about WLB and will just grind for money - complete baloney imo) where chasing the elite uni > elite banking job is worth it...

barclays corporate bank is a good career and i'd wager the average tenure is a lot longer than most IB roles aswell as higher satisfaction (i might be skewed because i did m&a where the hours were just brutal so maybe i burned out quicker - so take my advice with a grain of salt)

going uni carries a lot more risk #1 you need to get the grades, #2 you need to land the spring weeks which when i was applying was like 1/60 chances app to offer for most of the banks, #3 if you do manage to get in then you need to go through the mental health blender and make it out the other side for 2-3years before you can land a hopefully better WLB seat in a corporate environment @ at a decent salary (or go into PE in the case of m&a and go further into the blender)

and to be balanced the otherside is if you do end up doing banking and standing the test of time, the opportunities in the corporate world become significant. but the question is, is that really needed if you can make a good career out of your apprenticeship, gain the qualifications and experience to further yourself there. i don't think so - alot of IBD in specific is chased because of 'exit opps' which whilst there is (and was for sure in my case) is a bit counter-intuitive if an option is open at the ground floor which can avoid all that hassle and risk

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Articles for you

Actuarial science degree personal statement example (1a) with review

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.

Try out the app

Continue on web