DealPrep
Career paths
How it works
The Circle
Log in
Start free
Career paths
Seven routes into finance
All
Deals
Markets
Investing
IB
Investment Banking
Advise companies on M&A and capital raising — the classic launchpad into finance.
14 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
PE
Private Equity
Buy companies, improve them, sell them for more — and own a piece of the upside.
13 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
M&A
M&A / Corporate Development
Run M&A from inside an operating company — fewer deals, deeper ownership of each one.
9 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
AM
Asset Management
Manage long-term portfolios for institutions and individuals — research-driven, lower-intensity hours.
6 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
HF
Hedge Funds
Make concentrated, often fast-moving bets across markets — high reward, high accountability.
8 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
ER
Equity Research
Become the go-to expert on a handful of public companies — research, writing, and a defensible opinion.
10 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
VC
Venture Capital
Back early-stage startups before most people believe in them — relationship-driven, long time horizons.
7 TOPICS ON THE ROUTE
Sign up to start
2 MIN QUIZ
Not sure which fits you?
Ten questions about what you enjoy. You get your top three paths and why.
Find my path
Compare up to 3 paths side by side: hours, pay, skills and exits.
Compare paths
How the paths connect
Common exits between paths. Pick a path to see its full profile.
Investment Banking
Private Equity
M&A / Corporate Development
Asset Management
Hedge Funds
Equity Research
Venture Capital