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Choose Your Specialization
With the fundamentals firmly in place, you can now start shaping your expertise for a specific career.
Please note that I am still learning, so while I strive for accuracy, some contents may not be fully precise and are subject to change as I progress.
You can also click here to go straight into advanced lessons.
Investment banking (1-3 Years in industry)
1. Investment Banking (Years 1–3 in industry)
Why IB First: Most common launchpad into PE, Hedge Funds, and VC.
Most Common Entry:
Direct from university (Spring Weeks, Summer Analyst → full-time offer)
Alternative Entries:
Post-MBA (usually Associate level - LBS and INSEAD)
Big 4 Corporate Finance / Transaction Services (lateral into IB)
Boutique / regional banks → move to bulge bracket
Corporate Development → lateral into IB
Private Equity (Post-IB, Years 1–5 in PE)
Most Common Entry:
IB Analyst (2 years) → PE Associate
Alternative Entries:
Management Consulting (MBB) → growth/operationally focused PE
Big 4 Transaction Advisory / Corporate Finance → mid-market PE
Corporate Development (M&A team) → mid-market PE
Growth Equity → lateral to buyout PE
Hedge Fund (event-driven / special situations) → niche PE roles
Top-Tier MBA → enables a career pivot for candidates from non-traditional backgrounds
Founder/Exit → direct hire if relevant to fund strategy
Hedge Funds (Post-IB or S&T, Years 1–5 in HF)
Most Common Entry:
IB (M&A / LevFin) → Hedge Fund Analyst
Equity Research → Hedge Fund Analyst
Sales & Trading (S&T) → Hedge Fund Trader or Portfolio Manager (PM).
Alternative Entries:
Asset Management (buy-side research) → HF Analyst
Quantitative backgrounds (STEM, PhD) → Quant
Prop Trading → HF Trader (esp. market-making, short-term strategies)
Corporate Treasury / Commodities → HF Analyst or Trader (commodity-focused)
Post-MBA → PM/strategy roles (less for analyst roles)
Asset Management (Can Enter from Uni or Post-IB)
Most Common Entry:
Direct from university (graduate analyst programmes at major firms.)
Lateral from Sell-Side: From an Equity Research or IB industry coverage team into a relevant Equity Analyst role.
Alternative Entries:
CFA-Qualified Professionals: From corporate finance or accounting backgrounds into an Equity or Credit Analyst role.
Other Buy-Side Institutions: Lateraling from a Pension Fund or Sovereign Wealth Fund into a similar Analyst or Portfolio Manager (PM) role.
Sales & Trading: A trader from a Fixed Income desk moving to a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager role.
Hedge Fund: A rare move, typically for lifestyle reasons, into an Analyst or PM role.
Data Science / Fintech → Quantitative Analyst
Venture Capital (VC)
Most Common Entry:
Startup Operator / Founder: Direct experience as a founder, product manager, or early employee at a successful tech company. This is arguably the most sought-after background.
Investment Banking (Tech Coverage): A traditional path valued for financial modeling and deal execution skills, especially relevant for later-stage VC.
Management Consulting (MBB): Valued for market analysis and strategic thinking, often a good fit for growth or late-stage funds.
Direct from University (with a technical background): A growing, though highly competitive, path for exceptional graduates with STEM degrees or startup experience to join as Analysts.
Alternative Entries:
Growth Equity: A logical lateral move, as the work often overlaps with late-stage VC.
Angel Investors / Syndicate Leads: Individuals with a proven personal track record of investing in successful startups.
Post-MBA: For candidates who use a top MBA program to pivot into VC, especially if they have a strong pre-MBA tech or startup background.
Disclaimer: Everything on this page is for informational and entertainment purposes only - none of it is financial advice.
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