Sell-side vs. Buy-side Equity Research

I'm a rising senior at a non-target who recently decided not to be pre-med anymore, so I'm looking at my options in finance - I apologize in advance if what I'm asking is silly, and please correct me if I have this all wrong.

From what I understand, at GS, the typical entry-level (post-UG) ER role is sell-side research in the GIR division. How does this compare to Fundamental Equity research in the IM division, which is buy-side research? I keep reading about how it's next to impossible to get into buy-side ER straight out of UG, but a quick linkedin search shows that at least a couple kids from my school get into fundamental equity every year.

GS and JPM recruit a decent amount of people from my school every year for PWM, but I've never seen anyone go directly into any other position other than fundamental equity, not even in GIR (apart from one person who managed to get IB).

Is fundamental equity what people are referring to when they talk about eventually switching over to the buy-side after spending a few years sell-side? If not, what's the difference?

 

Hi MantisTobogganM.D., the silence is deafening, sorry about that.... Any of the threads below helpful?

  • Choosing Between Buy Side vs Sell Side in Equity Research? So I want to do equity research. I know that there is sell-side and buy-side and, so far, I have ... vs buy side ER There are numerous differences between working on the sell side and buyside of equity ... selling detailed research and investment recommendati
  • Going from Buy-Side Analyst to Sell-Side Equity Sales? going from buy-side to-> sell-side (which i would be willing to do), but they want me in an (cash) ... Equity Sales role! I am open to go to the sell-side, but did not expect that. I was expecting a Research ... appreciate any advice on that! sales;equity;sell-side ...
  • Buy-Side Analysts vs Sell-Side firms made public on the Internet. Do buy-side analysts write these? Or are they sell-side analysts? or ... business advising PM's on which securities to buy....and sell-side ER analysts work in the IB side ... If I'm not mistaken, buy-side ER analysts work in the asset/investment management side of the ...
  • Difference between sell-side and buy-side equity research (culture/ atmosphere, salary, career paths, etc.)? Hi, I'm very curious about the difference between being a sell-side or a buy-side equity ... analyst. Of course, one main difference is that you don't talk to clients when you are a buy.side ... pay (of course comparing apples with apples, so top bb with top asset manager e.g.) and hours differ ...
  • Sell Side and Buy Side Trading Career Path Buy-Side To Sell-Side From No-Name College To Buy-Side Out Of Undergrad Buy Side VS Sell Side Trading Want ... Side Firms Sell side firms such as Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley have large, ... prolific sales and trading arms that have hierarchical levels just like the inve
  • Is it true that M7 adcoms prefer buy-side equity research more than sell-side? And how hard is it to get a senior buy-side research role post M7 MBA coming from buy-side ... 3.7 GPA from non-IIT or IIM, 3 years at big 4 valuation and then transitioned straight to buy-side ... research in a different emerging market, like Mumbai? My target M7 schools are Wharton, Columbia & ...
  • Entry buy-side or sell-side position....thoughts? I got two different offers for post-MBA entry positions. One is sell-side ER associate and the ... other is a buy-side junior analyst (IM). The SS firm isn't a BB but it's a recognizeable MM ... buyside and a SS ER associate position, which would you choose and why? My impression is that the BS job ...
  • More suggestions...

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