Conundrum

I wasn't taking any chances this time. Pris and I mapped out all my possible career options at this point and I insisted on putting it into a table to sort out my thoughts. Anyway, do bear with me as I list of these thoughts (hint: jump to the bottom if you get bored).

1) Investment Analyst in asset management firm

Pro
- exposure to asset management industry and learn from portfolio managers
- can progress onto portfolio management

Con
- could be a very very very significant pay cut (start from bottom)
- less flexibility in taking leave and even then must always keep abreast of news
- no guarantee that can move into portfolio management compared to research analyst

2) Research Analyst

Pro
- get to know in depth knowledge about covered industry
- good pay
- could be interesting work
- can progress onto portfolio management

Con
- can likely only get in at an experienced level whereby expectations of skills are high
- cannot be careless (i am)
- less flexibility in taking leave and even then must always keep abreast of news
- hours may not be good
- could be stressful because work is public document and subsequent market movements testify to the accuracy of your opinions
- target price and opinions often conflicted by bank's IB clients (forced to write buy when you believe sell)

3) Corporate M&A

Pro
- M&A related work and get to do modelling
- Better hours, ok pay, work life balance
- More ownership of work as you experience M&A from a different perspective

Con
- appetite/eagerness for M&A transactions not as great
- opportunities rare
- unlikely to take a chance on me because they need stability
- need to handle and lead a M&A transaction which actual experience to date might not be adequate; need to pretend again
- Mandarin requirement might be a strong possibility
- Location might not be in RP
- Less flexibility in taking leave

4) Corporate Project Finance

Pro
- Project finance related work and get to do modelling
- Better hours, ok pay, work life balance
- More ownership of work as you experience project finance from a different perspective
- A lot more contact with modelling work

Con
- can be very stressful as they expect someone who already has requisite experience
- Less flexibility in taking leave
- no time for you to learn, must know asap

5) EY Financial Modelling

Pro
- Comfortable with pace and work there
- get to learn and work at your own pace without expectation gaps
- no need to prove yourself to bosses
- no loss in position vis a vis previous position

Con
- have to endure peoples' curiosity and possible snide comments
- hours may or may not be fantastic
- poor EY culture

I've left out some of the other options (project finance in bank, commercial due diligence in PwC, more routine type work e.g. product control), but you get the idea.

In the end, I had only one conclusion. My best option was to talk to my former partner and see what came out of it. I prayed about it and this seems like the best compromise between what I want in my career and what I can offer.

Let's see...