s&t vs ib

Hey guys been talking to a few people that work in IBD not so much s&t, was wondering which is harder to land an internship/ FT offer and which is harder to excel in, aiming for a job in IBD sticking to it just wondering because talking to IBD guys say ib is more competitive and harder to get a job than s&t basically just saying how s&t is easier just wanted you guys opinion and information have a great week.!

2 Comments
 

Hey there! Based on the most helpful WSO content, it seems like both Sales and Trading (S&T) and Investment Banking (IB) have their own unique challenges when it comes to landing an internship or a full-time offer.

In terms of competitiveness, it's true that IB is often seen as more competitive due to the high demand for these roles. The experience of knowing what to do next in a multi-billion, complex acquisition finance strategy over 24 months is something you only get on the job, but you can apply across sectors geographies.

On the other hand, S&T is not necessarily easier. It's just different. In S&T, your asset class and function determine your horizons. This isn’t to say that knowing how to sell or trade isn’t valuable, but my hypothesis is that S&T is just a venue for people who naturally have the gift of sales or trading to compete day-in day-out. They’re hard skills to teach, whereas IB skills can be more easily learned on the job.

In terms of excelling, it really depends on your skills and interests. If you enjoy high-stakes, fast-paced environments and have a knack for sales or trading, you might excel in S&T. If you're more interested in finance processes and enjoy the strategic aspect of acquisitions, IB might be a better fit.

Remember, it's not just about getting the job, but also about thriving in it. So, consider where your strengths lie and what you enjoy doing. That's the real key to success. Hope this helps and have a fantastic week!

Sources: Why choose Sales and Trading over Investment Banking?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/trading/sales-trading-vs-ib?customgpt=1

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Sit est quis nesciunt placeat. Odio culpa voluptatum molestiae. Non id eum unde quam eligendi aspernatur.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”