Institutional Equity Sales - got an interview at a boutique

Any help would be appreciated?

Can you guys shed some light on what they might ask about, the environment of the interview, any interview material you would like to forward me to? I am very excited but also pretty scared...I really don't want to look at this after and see how much better I could have done.

8 Comments
 
Best Response

I would pick up the latest copy of Barron's and read it through and through esp. the cover articles. Have a sector that you can talk about and demonstrate passion about - i.e. energy.

Given the energy boom in the US, this has been covered ad nauseum by Barron's. Have a couple of stock picks. Know their PE, PEG, EV/EBITDA, ROE, Sales, Latest Earnings, EPS growth rate. Be able to discuss them in the perspective of current trends. Know the key benchmarks: Dow/S&P/Gold/Oil/10-year note, 30-year bond.

Personally, I'd talk about some of the smaller oil E&P's based in the US, since they are currently capitalizing on 100+ per barrel oil prices. If you choose to focus on energy, recently pipeline infrastructure buildouts have expanded in the US, bringing WTI crude prices closer to international prices (Brent).

Of course, know why their firm. Know the key bullet points of why their Institutional Equity Sales group.

Feel free to PM me if you want more details.

 

I am assuming this is for US equities and you currently don't have any account relationships? You will need to demonstrate a mix of investment acumen and social skills that clients can bite into. Pick a topic or two on the market, along with a sector/stock pick or two and convey why those excite you. Other than that, open up & be yourself. A lot of it will be perception on how you fit on the team and potential on developing relationships. Are you going to be someone they feel comfortable placing in front of corporate management, research analysts, portfolio managers, buy side analysts, etc?

All the world's indeed a stage, And we are merely players, Performers and portrayers, Each another's audience, Outside the gilded cage - Limelight (1981)
 

Sales people tend to have low IQs and also are very insecure about others taking their business. Just act like a dumbass and you should be selected. Make sure you can answer "Why sales?" The correct response being , I have no other real options.

 
Aston Gekko

Sales people tend to have low IQs and also are very insecure about others taking their business. Just act like a dumbass and you should be selected. Make sure you can answer "Why sales?" The correct response being , I have no other real options.

Sales is probably the toughest and most challenging job on wall street. I'd bet you couldn't make it past the first year as an analyst in it. And I'm saying this as an investment banker.

 
Aston Gekko

Sales people tend to have low IQs and also are very insecure about others taking their business. Just act like a dumbass and you should be selected. Make sure you can answer "Why sales?" The correct response being , I have no other real options.

I would argue sales skills pay higher dividends as one enters into the second half of their career.

 

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All the world's indeed a stage, And we are merely players, Performers and portrayers, Each another's audience, Outside the gilded cage - Limelight (1981)

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