How hard is FT recruiting compared to regular SA recruiting?

Question in Title. Went through SA recruiting where I was able to network well and get around 11 R1s and several SDs. Ended up not doing well in the SDs (mostly because i didn't prep enough w upperclassmen & analysts) but was able to sign an alright MM with good volume just smaller deals.

Want to FT recruit for job security and also to move to a better firm if possible. Curious how hard it is compared to SA recruiting (esp given my success/lack of success)

4 Comments
 

Harder and easier. Harder, because the actual number of seats is far fewer. Easier, because the candidate pool is typically weaker, so it's easier to stand out. 

My own view watching others get in on FT recruiting is that the best people who did so usually have a story about why FT recruiting is for them. I found a good number of CS/premed switchers did quite well actually. They're smart enough and usually have a good reason as to why they wanted to come to finance. 

So try to have something that makes you stand out more. 

 

How is the candidate pool weaker? Shouldn’t it be harder, given most people received return offers and were at an ib? SA recruiting are candidates of the same level

 
Most Helpful

Well, you answered the question yourself. The people gunning for it the hardest got their return offers, and are removed from the pool. Most people don't go through FT if they have a return offer, just not worth it. 

IME, most FT recruiting comes from one of the following

-Got IB internship, didn't get RO

-Got finance internship lower than IB, wants to do IB

-Completely different field, looking to switch into finance. 

That would be the majority of candidates. At least ones you'd even bother to look at, there are of course some with no internships or experience who have an idea they can walk in. 

So standing out there means having something that puts you in the top of each pile. 

 

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