For other junior equity research associates working on the sell-side out there, what was the culture like for you?

Right after college, I worked as a sell-side equity research associate for one year before I jumped to a buy-side fund. At the sell-side gig, I had almost zero client interaction, I guess because (1) there were not enough clients to talk to and (2) my senior was quite protective of his client resources. Is it rare? How much client interaction did you get as a junior associate? Did you get more client interaction after some time? A few months? Or a few years?

Thanks in advance for your input!

6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Client interaction is dependent HEAVILY on your senior analyst and firm policies. Some firms (including BB) do not give client interaction credit to the senior analyst for an associate's client interaction while other firms encourage it. Some analysts can be super protective and that's really just a reflection of personality and not wanting their franchise to feel threatened.

Mine was super protective of clients which honestly was a bummer because that's how junior people can network, develop relationships, and really learn from good buy-side people and different perspectives. On the flip side (and at the same firm), my friend had a senior analyst who encouraged interaction with lower tier clients and it really helped my friend stay engaged and loyal to the analyst because there was a sense of shared stake in the franchise.

Created a 1-step skincare solution for men. Purchase + reviews appreciated: www.w34th.com
 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah that makes sense because I talked to some of my other sell side ER friends at other firms. It seems that they were getting decent client interaction.

 

The reality is that if you're junior, your SS research experience is far more levered to your analyst than the actual firm

Created a 1-step skincare solution for men. Purchase + reviews appreciated: www.w34th.com
 

Vero ipsa id aliquid modi. Temporibus impedit aliquid sint maiores et sit. Aut est exercitationem magnam nihil quod a qui nihil.

Voluptatem et distinctio et quisquam. Est est aut atque veritatis dicta eveniet est. Omnis consequatur ex perferendis numquam nemo et. Temporibus aspernatur voluptatem ea aut veritatis illo animi. Quisquam tempora ut sequi accusamus ut.

Iste non laboriosam ut optio nisi molestiae ad. Asperiores laboriosam doloribus illum vel debitis dolorum. Iure sint maxime rerum ut qui. Magni molestiae iste omnis consequatur ex. Iusto omnis consequatur quod quia qui. Quibusdam dolorem praesentium error hic natus qui ducimus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”