Strategy for Choosing Desks S&T SA

Hi everybody,

I'm an incoming SA at a BB for S&T in London. The firm allows SAs to suggest their desk preferences for rotation. There are 5/6 desks I know that want to try, across equity and FICC, but I'm unsure of the best way to proceed, though I know the desks will be in competition with the other interns so I'm not expecting to get any/all. I was hoping for some help on the following:

  • Should I try to get all placements in equity or FICC, to learn as much about 1 business area as possible or spread them out across divisions?
  • Should I try to stick to 1 product group? Like derivatives or spread out?
  • Should I try to stick to 1 pipeline like sales, trading, structuring etc or go across a few?

I'm incredibly happy with any experience at all but just thought of some of these questions when speaking to another SA

Thanks for any help. 

 
Most Helpful

would be strategic about what you start off with.  in these rotation-type programs, people tend to get the best looks (most spots open and ability to form the longest relationships) with their first rotation desk.  if you like it, offer to do any work for them on the side, or at least maintain contact, even thru your 2nd and 3rd rotations.

as for what to do i'd try a mix of s & t, one desk in equities and two in ficc.

 

I would recommend spreading them out within your interests as wide as possible to meet as many people as possible. Is it only your first rotation that you're applying for and then you network once you start your SA or do they assign all 3 prior to the internship? 

 

I would say that you should go for 2 desks in whichever area the firm is stronger (FICC vs equities) and then split across all the pipelines. The main decision you would have to make is if you want to go for research or structuring as your 3rd business line. I would rec equity research, rates trading, and credit (probably HY or CLO) sales for the 3 you should look at but it depends on your interests.

Also agree with the other commenter that said try to be strategic ab where you start off at, typically I think its easiest to stay in peoples minds if you rotate there first or last. Rotating last means its harder for people to get to know you well though.

 

Est et sit provident quis magni dolorum. Nobis ut dolores optio nostrum nemo. Quia voluptatem eos sed vel. Omnis repudiandae enim delectus.

Necessitatibus maiores vitae sed inventore. Quis cum eveniet temporibus temporibus deleniti totam. Sed aliquam illo autem. Aliquam provident ipsam eos ex explicabo labore. Voluptatem nam adipisci sed a.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.9%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 04 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”