Unsure about career
Currently ~1 year into SS ER (MM Industrials) in a tier 3 city.
I’m getting decent exposure to modeling and stock input, but was recently offered a product strategy role at a sizeable ETF manager. It’s a good pay bump and would move me to a tier 1 city.
Ultimate goal: move to the buyside at a LO or AM.
Would staying in SS ER another 1–2 years position me better for a buyside seat (or possibly lateral to a bigger platform first)?
Or could taking the product strategy role (buy-side adjacent) still make the switch feasible later?
Any insight would be appreciated.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to consider:
Staying in Sell-Side ER:
Taking the Product Strategy Role:
Key Considerations:
Recommendation:
If you’re confident in your ability to network and leverage the product strategy role to eventually transition to the buy-side, it could be a worthwhile move. However, if you want to maximize your chances of landing a buy-side seat in the near term, staying in SS ER for another 1–2 years and potentially lateraling to a bigger platform might be the safer bet.
Sources: Feel Trapped, Exit Opps From Sell-Side ER?, A warning to those aiming for Sell Side Equity Research, A warning to those aiming for Sell Side Equity Research, Would you leave in this situation?, Feel Trapped, Exit Opps From Sell-Side ER?
Hey mate, congrats on the offer. Clear answer: stay on the SS in you want to go into a LO. Having SS then some random product strategy stint makes no sense in the eyes of a long only.
Long Answer: Make sure going to a LO is what you want to do. If you are ok doing the same work you're doing now but having added stress of making calls while juggling what you PM wants then LO makes sense. But if you wanna have chills WLB at a tier 1 city then take the time to reflect on your life and what the offer can do for you. My relationship with the buyside (specifically LO) is confusing. A part of me wants to make the jump mostly because it's the only thing I've thought about doing since college. On the other hand recruiting for a LO while doing SSER is incredibly difficult. A growing part of me wants a corp role where the structure is set, hours are predictable, and the weeknights+weekends are mine.
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