Hello allI am currently in a Masters in Management program at a top business school in Europe, with an undergraduate degree in fundamental mathematics.I have spent much time thinking about what I am good at, and have envisioned a wide range of different career paths.Trading, structuring, sales, but also research, Investment banking, and even private wealth management (I am quadrilingual, with a fifth language in limbo, so private wealth management people could be interested in me).After much soul searching, I have come to the conclusion that the soul searching is premature. I have no work experience, and no idea of what kind of jobs are out there.Wouldn't it be smarter to just start out with a gap year internship in the Sales and Trading department of a bank? Would the front office experience be a valuable asset in my career path, regardless of the domain of finance I choose to continue in? Can I see an internship in S&T as a sort of extension in my education?

QuoteAfter much soul searching, I have come to the conclusion that the soul searching is premature. I have no work experience, and no idea of what kind of jobs are out there.Wouldn't it be smarter to just start out with a gap year internship in the Sales and Trading department of a bank? Would the front office experience be a valuable asset in my career path, regardless of the domain of finance I choose to continue in? Can I see an internship in S&T as a sort of extension in my education?Your thinking is spot on.

Nothing like real world experience indeed. Plus, from what I've seen, it is relatively easy to move from S&T to other areas but not the other way around.