I-Banking, Consulting, and VC: How They Stack up

Thinking about careers in investment banking, management consulting, and/or venture capital? The following comparisons may help you decide where you belong.

I-banking: Work with numbers.
Management consulting: Work with clients.
VC: Work with entrepreneurs.

I-banking: Make a lot of deals.
Management consulting: Don’t make any deals.
VC: Make the right deals.

I-banking: Work late.
Management consulting: Work in teams.
VC: Work alone or in partnership.

I-banking: Satisfaction comes in finding time for a nap.
Management consulting: Satisfaction comes from promoting change in client companies.
VC: Satisfaction comes from growing companies.

I-banking: Work 24/7.
Management consulting: Work seven days a week.
VC: Work five days a week.

I-banking: Variable.
Management consulting: Lots of travel.
VC: Little travel.

I-banking: Learn about I-banking.
Management consulting: Learn about several industries.
VC: Learn about several industries.

I-banking: Compensation mind-boggling.
Management consulting: Compensation great.
VC: Compensation deferred.

I-banking: No time for lunch or dinner—go to the vending machine for a snack.
Management consulting: No time for lunch.
VC: No time for lunch.

I-banking: Check out at 33.
Management consulting: Check out at 49.
VC: Check out at 56.

Source: WetFeet