I need your advice to help me chose the best offer - i am 25, just finished two years in grad consulting programme1) offer one: Barclays Capital Investment Banking - (DCM) - basic 45, bonus 45, hours 8 to 9. 2) JPM M&A european coverage - basic 50, bonus 60, hours 8-1 am on average3) lehman brothers - infrastructure finance - basic 45, bonus 45, hours 8 to 11pm on averageALl of them are good finance roles for people in their mid 20's, and the money is more or less the same. Salary jumps two years in are approximately 75k basic, 120k bonus.What should i pick and why?

stay in consulting - hours are much better so you wont cause permanent damamge to your health and if you are dedicated and clever you will eventually end up earning more than those figures.

btw - dont always count on getting all your bonus or some bonus at all...imagine the year you wont get it!But if IB is really for you then i would sa go for the one that gives you the most money...if you can do the hours then do them to the max.

evan, where did you do your grad scheme out of interest?Am planning on the same exit route after i finish mine.

choose no 2 - m&a is the most useful/ transferable - and even if you get fed up ater a year you can secure a position in industry - such as oil ng gas with lower working hours and higher manager grade. all 3 brands are good though, but jpm to me seems best. good luck

Right to address 'Idea'1) These are salaries for a thrid year analyst. "clever you will eventually end up earning more than those figures"Thats nonsense. In a few years in a bank you end up at incredible high wages. A 1st year VP can easily make upwards of 350k. Thats only 5 more years... consulting pays nothing like this. 2) How are the hours better in consulting? 8 to 9 is 65 hours a week, not that bad. 3) What health problems? trust me that the lazy ones that leave work at 5 to go to the pub and have a carling, have more health problems than i do....4) In the last 20 years bonuses have ALWAYS been paid. Do not propagate wrong info please. and to answer anon, I did the grad programme at Accenture Strategy, covering corporate finance.

"2) How are the hours better in consulting? 8 to 9 is 65 hours a week, not that bad.""1) offer one: Barclays Capital Investment Banking - (DCM) - basic 45, bonus 45, <b>hours 8 to 9</b>. 2) JPM M&A european coverage - basic 50, bonus 60, <b>hours 8-1 am on average</b>3) lehman brothers - infrastructure finance - basic 45, bonus 45, <b>hours 8 to 11pm on average</b> "It Sounds To Me Like Squire Has Already Made His Mind Up.

Thanks for the info Evan Re:emplyer.I&apos;m there too doing strat but trying to move to corp finance for the same reasons. Glad to see my ambitions (similar to what you&apos;re doing) are attainable.

Sure, they are obtainable. All you have to do is position yourself well - after 2 years of Acn strat you probably wont be a first canddate for ML or GS, but solid tier 1 and tier 2 players will see your experience as valuable. any other questions just shoot

Glad to hear it and for the record I&apos;d choose JPM M&A as it affords the best exit options (PE,Hedge fund etc.).Would such companiesview the experience as more valuable than BSI or is it all dependant on what you did. I&apos;m just concerned that as my experience is not in FS (it&apos;s in Resources), it may not be deemed as relevant as FS in BSI or Cap Markets?

No Way. BSI is rubbish and will lead you to middle office IT. Resources Strat will lead you to a resources team in a IB

H Evan have you got a contact email or something id like to ask you a few questions offline please

Evan, did you apply direct or through recruitment agencies?Im at a similar stage in my career, looking to make the move into front office investment banking - M&A roles. I currently work as a strategy consultant for a competitor of accenture...but not an MBBB

"What should i pick and why?"A few more details would be helpfull rather than just the salary.But reading between the lines this is all you are really bothered out. So assume your figures are correct and taking into account income tax:Offer 1: £15.33/hourOffer 2: £13.99/hourOffer 3: £13.29/hoursTherefore choose offer 1 as its more money per hour and less hours.To me doesnt really seem nice of a choice!

Sorry for terrible grammar - men just wern&apos;t meant to do two things at once.