Help - Transitioning from IBD ind coverage Assoc 3 >> MM HF - asking for tips

Been in the same industry team in IBD and joining the same sector-focused pod at a MM HF

I've always wanted to do public equities investing but been late to make the move. Tbh my dream job would've been LO but never knew how crucial that extra branding from MBA / MF PE was going to be, and hey time just flew by while I grinded at IBD and here I am making a unconventionally late career change. I'm aware MM HF is a dramatically different platform vs LO but it ultimately came down to choosing between staying in IBD vs making that change to finally move into equities.

Anw I made it through the interviews mainly through just over-preparing like crazy, but tbh don't have a solid idea on how to best prepare myself over the next ~3m until I join, ~2m of which I will still be working.

I'm torn between A) Studying the ~50 stocks that will be in my coverage (tbh despite my IBD experience covering the same sector can't say I know even a quarter of them in and out) vs B) hitting up books, podcasts etc about the HF world / trading / or even academic books around my sector. Btw I honestly don't think ~3m will be enough to cover just one good enough. 

For those who joined MM HF not directly from ER doing the same coverage, what would your advice be on spending the next few months to prepare?

13 Comments
 

new hires seriously have to get 50 names under coverage at MM? Didn’t know it was so many damn

 

Apologies this question isn’t helpful at all, but selfishly, could you please share how you got on the MM firms’ radar in the first place? Any headhunters you’d recommend? Thanks!

 

I’m not in the US so cant say the landscape is the same - still a pretty unconventional move. I just had a few headhunters I’ve been speaking to for years, mostly for PE stuff but after I got interested in public equities I askd them to refer me to their colleagues covering them. I did make an effort in perfecting my story and practiced making pitches / case studies in my free time on weekends for several months

 

I went IB AS2 to MM HF analyst.

I would say, for the most part, just get some rest and recharge, though it sounds easier than it is with the new job anxiety. The first few months will likely be the build out of your coverage and you’ll want a fresh mind for that. I podcasted a bit and that was alright, but mostly I just travelled and annoyed the break. Once you plug back in there is no break again.

no amount of prep on the companies is gonna get you close to what you’ll end up being once ramped.

congrats on the new job

 

Thanks so much, have to say it’s pretty good advice and I feel you esp the part about no break when plugging back.

Just curious though, coming from IB didnt you find it incredibly bewildering to not only rethink how to make models, shifting gears in way of thinking in term of focusing on 3-4 intense deals >> dozens of companies to cover, as well as just basic stuff like where to get earnings stuff and following filings? Feel like there should be some bare minimum boot camp stuff that I should be doing and am doing it now, but feels like I dont have a sense of priority out of the myriad stuff I should get ramped u p on

 
Most Helpful

It will make more sense once you’re ramping but trust me, don’t worry about any of that. If you’re looking for an activity then some light industry reading could help but truly just take time off.

Until you have a Bloomberg terminal you can’t learn process and systematizing research anyways. Company filings, transcripts, presentations, sell side research, etc all fly at 1000 miles an hour in your face all day every day. Not to mention hundreds of well paid sales ppl at the banks whose core job is to get you access to information and company management and then twist your arm to trade with them. You won’t be worried about finding it all - you’ll be more worried about how the hell to shut off the tap of info that comes to you 24/7.

On models, that’s what you’ll do first few months - build 50 until your eyes bleed - and build them in the framework and workflow your team prefers. Until you know what that is, what’s to practice anyways?

 

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