Structured Credit vs. Prop Trading

I need to make a decision between two offers. Both offers are at BB banks; one is in structured credit focusing on synthetic CDOs; the other is under proprietary trading focusing primarily on the commodities sector.

The names for the banks are about equal so no difference in terms of name recognition, just trying to determine which product would be better and would give me a better experience. It seems that the structured credit market is extremely hot right now but the role is largely structuring, the hrs are longer. I am more interested in the trading side but there seems to be much higher risk in the prop trading position.

Would like any insight regarding long-term career potential, skillset building/learning, and compensation. Thanks.

6 Comments
 

Simply depends on your personality and skill set.

Prop - Greater risk, greater rewards. Depends alot on your trading skillset.

Structured - Much more quantitative than prop. More stable and hot for now. Upside not as great as prop. Exit ops less than prop.

 

Modi id distinctio porro velit omnis alias. Ut velit ea quis magnam nemo labore. Error adipisci non odio sit suscipit veniam.

Voluptatem ducimus eaque beatae nostrum odit mollitia. Non ipsa est facilis perspiciatis rem dolorem. Modi vel provident non veniam eum commodi voluptatem.

Magni sit ex veniam hic sed. Animi occaecati facere repudiandae corrupti maiores sit odio. Quisquam molestiae reiciendis illum et voluptate facere accusamus est. Libero nihil possimus doloribus quibusdam. Sint ex dolorum minus voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.6%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.6%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (70) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”